BRICS Summit: PM Modi Welcomes Putin at Bharat Mandapam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday. This meeting marks the beginning of the 18th BRICS Summit, hosted under India’s chairmanship.

During the ceremony, PM Modi greeted the BRICS leaders with the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, providing a picturesque backdrop for the summit.

On Friday, Prime Minister Modi engaged in separate diplomatic talks with several global leaders, including President Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. He also met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and addressed the BRICS Business Forum, indicating India’s active role on the international stage.

The meeting with President Putin marks their second engagement this year. Earlier, both leaders discussed crucial issues during the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek this August. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, their discussions centered on enhancing cooperation in political, economic, Defence, energy, space, and people-to-people relations.

The key agenda of the recent discussions included India’s BRICS chairmanship and the prospects for India-Russia collaborations within the multilateral forum. The leaders also addressed prominent regional and global concerns such as the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region.

As a significant diplomatic milestone, a joint statement is set to be released by the BRICS nations during this summit. After thorough negotiations that stretched until 4 am on Saturday, the BRICS countries reached a consensus on a joint statement. These discussions involved reconciling various contentious issues, with India playing a vital role in facilitating communication and consensus-building among member nations.

The BRICS Summit, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, continues to be a pivotal platform for promoting multipolarity and uniting emerging economies. As India chairs this year’s summit, New Delhi aims to solidify its influence in shaping global policies.

As the summit unfolds, India intends to leverage its position to advocate for enhanced collaboration among BRICS nations, addressing pressing global challenges and enhancing economic cooperation.