PM Modi to attend 16th BRICS summit in Russia, bilateral talks with Putin planned

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia from October 22-23 to participate in the 16th BRICS Summit, hosted in Kazan. This visit comes at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Summit Theme Focuses on Global Development and Security

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the summit's theme is "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." The event will serve as a platform for BRICS leaders to discuss significant global challenges and explore future cooperation. The MEA highlighted that the summit will evaluate past initiatives and identify key areas for collaboration moving forward.

BRICS: A Major Global Grouping

Formed in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and later expanded to include South Africa in 2010, BRICS represents a significant portion of the global economy. The grouping accounts for 41% of the world’s population, 24% of global GDP, and 16% of global trade, making it a vital platform for international dialogue and economic cooperation.

Bilateral Meeting with President Putin

On October 22, PM Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin to discuss progress on previous agreements and future prospects. Putin, who described Modi as a "good friend," extended this invitation during a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the sidelines of the BRICS National Security Advisers' meeting in St. Petersburg.

PM Modi’s Second Russia Visit in 2024

This visit will mark PM Modi's second trip to Russia this year, following his visit in July for the India-Russia Annual Summit. During that visit, he was conferred Russia’s highest civilian award, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. The two leaders also toured the Rosatom Pavilion at Moscow’s VDNKh Exhibition Centre.