PM Modi BRICS Summit 2026: 15 Bilaterals With Putin, Xi & Pezeshkian
BRICS Summit 2026: India’s capital is set for a major diplomatic week as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. The summit, scheduled for September 12 and 13, comes at a particularly sensitive moment in global politics, with conflicts, energy security, trade tensions and changes in the international economic order dominating discussions among major powers.
For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, the BRICS Summit is not limited to formal sessions involving all member countries. A packed schedule of bilateral meetings is expected to turn the gathering into a major diplomatic opportunity for India.
Among the most closely watched meetings are those with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Their discussions are expected to cover bilateral relations as well as major regional and global developments.
PM Modi’s 3-Day BRICS Diplomacy: Why the Schedule Matters
The BRICS gathering gives India an opportunity to engage with several important partners at one venue.
The expanded BRICS grouping now includes 11 members and has become a significant platform for discussions on global governance, trade, finance, technology, energy and the interests of the Global South. India’s 2026 chairship has adopted the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The bilateral meetings are therefore expected to complement the formal BRICS agenda.
Reports indicate that PM Modi is expected to hold a large number of bilateral interactions during the summit period, with the schedule involving around 15 meetings. While the exact programme can change depending on the leaders’ schedules, the sheer number of engagements highlights the importance India attaches to summit diplomacy.
PM Modi-Putin Meeting: Trade, Defence and Energy in Focus
The meeting between PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to be one of the most important bilateral engagements.
India and Russia have maintained a long-standing strategic partnership covering defence, energy, trade, nuclear cooperation, space and technology. The two leaders have also maintained regular contact through multilateral forums.
Putin arrived in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS Summit, with bilateral discussions with Modi scheduled during his visit.
Trade and investment are likely to remain important issues. India and Russia have been working to expand economic cooperation, including efforts to address payment mechanisms, transportation connectivity and investment.
Defence cooperation could also receive attention. Discussions may include military-technical cooperation and opportunities for greater technology collaboration.
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Energy security is another major issue. India remains focused on ensuring reliable energy supplies while also diversifying its international partnerships.
The Ukraine conflict could also feature in the conversation. During their earlier 2025 meeting, Modi reiterated India’s support for peace efforts and called for an end to hostilities and a durable settlement.
PM Modi-Xi Jinping Meeting: Trade and Border Issues
The meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attract considerable international attention.
Xi’s visit is particularly significant because India-China relations have been gradually moving towards greater engagement following years of tensions along the border.
Recent diplomatic developments have created space for dialogue on economic and strategic issues. During an earlier meeting at the SCO Summit, Modi and Xi discussed improving bilateral ties, trade, investment and the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the border.
The upcoming conversation in New Delhi is therefore expected to focus on multiple areas.
LAC and Border Stability
Border management will remain an important element of India-China relations. Both sides have an interest in maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control because stability is essential for improving broader bilateral ties.
Trade and Economic Relations
Trade is another major area of discussion. India wants greater balance in its economic relationship with China and is expected to push for increased market access and a more balanced trade relationship.
Technology, investment and supply-chain cooperation could also emerge as important areas.
PM Modi-Pezeshkian Meeting: West Asia and Energy Security
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is another key leader expected to meet Prime Minister Modi during the BRICS engagement.
The meeting assumes greater significance because of the continuing instability in West Asia and the strategic importance of Iran to India’s regional connectivity and energy interests.
Modi and Pezeshkian have previously discussed bilateral ties as well as developments in West Asia. India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred way of resolving regional conflicts.
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The Strait of Hormuz is also an important concern for India because disruptions to maritime trade and energy flows can have wider consequences for the Indian economy.
India’s relationship with Iran also has a strategic dimension because of connectivity projects and India’s interest in maintaining access to markets in Central Asia.
BRICS Summit 2026: Trade, Finance, Technology and Energy on Agenda
The bilateral meetings will take place alongside the broader BRICS discussions.
The 18th BRICS Summit is expected to focus on areas including trade, finance, technology, energy security and global governance reforms.
India’s presidency comes at a time when the global economic environment is undergoing major changes.
Countries are increasingly discussing alternative payment systems, supply-chain resilience, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and energy security. BRICS provides India with a platform to discuss these issues with major emerging economies.
The group has also sought to strengthen the voice of the Global South in international institutions.
Why 15 Bilateral Meetings Matter for India
A packed bilateral schedule gives India an opportunity to pursue its interests separately with different partners.
With Russia, the emphasis is likely to remain on strategic cooperation, defence, energy and trade.
With China, India has an opportunity to strengthen dialogue on border stability and economic relations.
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With Iran, discussions could focus on West Asia, connectivity, energy security and regional stability.
Other meetings can similarly help India advance cooperation in trade, investment, technology, development, infrastructure and diplomacy.
This is one of the biggest advantages of hosting a major international summit: leaders who would normally require separate diplomatic trips can meet in the same city within a short period.
BRICS 2026 and India’s Balancing Act
India’s foreign policy has increasingly emphasised strategic autonomy. New Delhi maintains strong relations with Russia while simultaneously engaging closely with the United States, Europe, Japan and other partners.
The BRICS Summit provides another opportunity to demonstrate this approach.
India is not seeking to turn BRICS into a rigid military or geopolitical alliance. Instead, New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised cooperation, dialogue, development and the interests of the Global South.
This balancing act will be particularly important at the 2026 summit because BRICS itself contains countries with different strategic priorities.
What to Watch From PM Modi’s BRICS Meetings
Several outcomes will be closely monitored during the summit:
| Meeting/Area | Key Issues Expected |
|---|---|
| PM Modi–Vladimir Putin | Defence, energy, trade, investment, Ukraine and strategic cooperation |
| PM Modi–Xi Jinping | LAC, border stability, trade, investment and bilateral relations |
| PM Modi–Masoud Pezeshkian | West Asia, energy security, connectivity and regional stability |
| BRICS Leaders | Trade, finance, technology, energy and global governance |
| Economic Cooperation | Payments, investment, supply chains and critical technologies |
| Global South | Development, multilateral reforms and greater representation |
Conclusion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s packed BRICS schedule reflects the growing importance of summit diplomacy in India’s foreign-policy strategy.
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The meetings with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Masoud Pezeshkian will command particular attention because they involve issues extending well beyond bilateral relations. From Russia-India strategic ties and China-India border stability to the West Asia crisis and energy security, the discussions could have wider regional implications.
At the same time, the wider BRICS agenda will test India’s ability to build consensus among an increasingly diverse group of countries.
With the 18th BRICS Summit taking place in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, India will be looking to use its presidency to promote practical cooperation, strengthen the voice of the Global South and reinforce its position as an important diplomatic bridge between competing geopolitical blocs.
FAQs
Q1. When is the BRICS Summit 2026 being held?
The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026.
Q2. Which major leaders are expected to meet PM Modi?
Among the most closely watched engagements are PM Modi’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
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Q3. What will PM Modi discuss with Vladimir Putin?
The talks are expected to cover India-Russia strategic cooperation, trade, energy, defence and major international developments.
Q4. Why is the Modi-Xi meeting important?
The meeting is important because India and China are seeking to stabilise bilateral relations, including discussions involving border management, trade and investment.
Q5. What is expected from the Modi-Pezeshkian meeting?
West Asia, regional stability, energy security and India-Iran cooperation are expected to be important subjects.
Q6. What is India’s BRICS 2026 theme?
India’s BRICS 2026 chairship theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Q7. How many members are currently in BRICS?
BRICS has expanded to 11 members, significantly increasing the grouping’s economic and geopolitical weight.
