Russia’s Vladimir Putin to visit India for Brics summit in September

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed participation in the BRICS Summit to be held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, with the Kremlin formally ...

What Happened

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed participation in the BRICS Summit to be held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, with the Kremlin formally announcing his visit.
This will be Putin's second visit to India within a year, following the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held in New Delhi in December 2025.
The two sides are expected to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit covering trade, energy, defence, and geopolitical coordination.
India currently holds the BRICS Presidency in 2026 under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."

Static Topic Bridges

BRICS: Origins, Expansion, and India's Presidency

BRICS began as an economic concept coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 to identify high-growth emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China). The grouping formalised at its first summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009, reaffirming a commitment to a multipolar world order. South Africa joined in 2011, making it BRICS. In 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE joined as full members; Indonesia officially joined in January 2025.

Current full members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE (11 members).
India held the BRICS Chairship previously in 2012, 2016, and 2021; 2026 is its fourth term.
In 2025, ten Partner countries joined including Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, and others.
The 2026 New Delhi Summit is the 18th BRICS Summit overall.

Connection to this news: India's BRICS Presidency makes New Delhi the diplomatic hub of the Global South in 2026, and Putin's confirmed attendance elevates the summit's geopolitical significance.

India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership

India and Russia share one of the longest-standing bilateral frameworks in Indian foreign policy. The foundational 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation provided India crucial diplomatic and military backing during the Bangladesh Liberation War, including a Soviet naval deployment to counter pressure in the Bay of Bengal. After the Cold War, the relationship was formalised as a "Strategic Partnership" in 2000 and upgraded to a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" in 2010.

Defence cooperation cornerstone: BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (joint venture), S-400 Triumf air defence system ($5.4 billion deal signed 2018), licensed production of Su-30MKI fighters.
Long-Term Military-Technical Cooperation Pact extended until 2031.
Bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030 under Programme 2030.
India-Russia Annual Summits are a structural feature of the partnership, held at the Head of Government level every year since 2000.

Connection to this news: The BRICS summit provides a multilateral platform for what is effectively a deeply bilateral relationship; sideline talks are as significant as the summit itself for India-Russia ties.

India's "Strategic Autonomy" Doctrine

India's foreign policy is guided by the principle of strategic autonomy — the ability to pursue national interests independently without formal alignment with any bloc. Rooted in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) founded in 1961, this doctrine allows India to engage simultaneously with geopolitically competing powers such as Russia and the United States. India abstained in UN votes on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, consistent with this doctrine.

India is the world's largest defence importer but maintains diversified suppliers: Russia, United States, France, and Israel are all major partners.
India simultaneously conducts Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) exercises with the US, Australia, and Japan while maintaining the India-Russia Annual Summit framework.
BRICS presidency offers India a platform to present itself as a bridge between the Global South and global powers.

Connection to this news: Hosting Putin at BRICS while deepening Quad ties exemplifies strategic autonomy in practice — India maintains value in all directions without exclusive alignment.

Key Facts & Data

BRICS Summit 2026 dates: September 12–13, New Delhi.
India's BRICS Presidency theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
BRICS now has 11 full members after the 2024 expansion.
Putin's December 2025 visit was for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
India-Russia bilateral trade target: USD 100 billion by 2030.
India has abstained on all UN resolutions concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The grouping collectively represents over 40% of the world's population and roughly 35% of global GDP (PPP).