BRICS Summit 2026 LIVE updates: PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Russian President Putin - The Hindu

**BRICS Summit 2026 – Delhi, India** – On the opening day of the 2026 BRICS summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a high‑profile bilateral meeting in New Delhi. The talks, held behind the summit’s main venue, were described by officials as “extensive” and focused on deepening economic and security cooperation between the two largest economies in the grouping. As a cultural gesture, Modi presented Putin with a Russian‑language edition of the ancient Tamil classic **Thirukkural**, underscoring India’s effort to highlight its civilizational heritage in diplomatic engagements.

During the two‑hour session, both leaders outlined an ambitious agenda aimed at reaching a **$100 billion trade target** by 2030. They agreed to accelerate joint projects in **critical minerals**, particularly lithium and rare‑earth elements, to reduce reliance on Western supply chains. In the defence sphere, the two sides discussed expanding **arms co‑production** and sharing technology for advanced missile systems, while also reviewing ongoing collaborations in **nuclear energy** and the potential for a new civil‑nuclear agreement that could see Russian reactors supplied to Indian power plants. Trade delegations from both countries are set to follow up with sector‑specific working groups later in the week.

Analysts view the Modi‑Putin meeting as a bellwether for the future direction of BRICS, signalling a shift toward greater intra‑group trade and strategic alignment amid mounting geopolitical tensions with the West. While India maintains its non‑aligned stance, the emphasis on critical minerals and defence ties with Russia reflects New Delhi’s intent to diversify its partners. Observers note that the outcomes of these talks could reshape supply‑chain dynamics in South Asia and bolster the BRICS bloc’s collective bargaining power in global forums.