Indian PM Narendra Modi lands in Russia, will attend 16th BRICS Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plane has landed in Kazan, Russia, for his two-day visit to attend the 16th BRICS Summit on Tuesday (Oct 22).

PM Modi is set to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterparts from the other BRICS member nations on the sidelines of the summit. This year, Russia holds the chairmanship of the summit that is taking place from October 22 to October 24. The theme for the summit is “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”.

There is also a possibility of a bilateral meeting with the Chinese President as India announced a day earlier that it has reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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PM Modi announced his departure in a post on X, “Leaving for Kazan, Russia, to take part in the BRICS Summit. India attaches immense importance to BRICS, and I look forward to extensive discussions on a wide range of subjects. I also look forward to meeting various leaders there.”

“India values the close cooperation within BRICS which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue and discussion on issues concerning the global developmental agenda, reformed multilateralism, climate change, economic cooperation, building resilient supply chains, promoting cultural and people to people connect, among others,” PM Modi said in a statement before his departure.

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This visit is Modi’s second visit to Russia in 2024 after he attended the 22nd India-Russia annual summit in July during his trip to Moscow. Modi said his “visit to Kazan will further reinforce the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia”.

The statement added, “The expansion of BRICS with the addition of new members last year has added to its inclusivity and agenda for the global good.”

This marks the first summit to be held after the grouping was expanded at its last summit in the South African city of Johannesburg in 2023. BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa and has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates this year. 

(With inputs from agencies)