PM Modi Embarks On 2-Day Visit To Russia For BRICS Summit; Set To Meet Putin, Other World Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to Russia to participate in the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. This year's summit is particularly significant as it is the first meeting following the group's expansion last year.

During the summit, chaired by Russia from October 22-24, PM Modi will engage in bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders from the other BRICS member nations. Notably, the BRICS grouping, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (with the addition of South Africa in 2010), has expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates this year.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that the Summit, themed 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security,' will serve as a crucial platform for leaders to address key global issues. Moreover, it will offer an invaluable opportunity to evaluate the progress of initiatives launched by BRICS and identify potential areas for future collaboration.

This visit marks PM Modi's second trip to Russia this year, following his attendance at the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in July. The invitation for the bilateral meeting on October 22, extended by Russian President Putin during a prior meeting, underscores the strong ties between the two leaders.

Indian Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, emphasized that India's commitment to economic cooperation within the framework of BRICS is a foundational principle, highlighting India's status as a founding member of BRICS.