New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold an important bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
The meeting comes at an important time for India and Russia, as both countries are looking to strengthen their long standing partnership in Defence, Energy, Trade and Technology.
Defence cooperation likely to be a major topic
- Defence cooperation is expected to be one of the main subjects of the Modi-Putin talks.
- India and Russia have maintained close defence ties for decades. According to current reports, discussions could include Russia’s fifth generation Su-57 fighter aircraft and possible cooperation involving technology transfer and manufacturing in India.
- The two sides are also expected to discuss existing defence projects and ways to improve cooperation between their defence industries.
Nuclear energy cooperation
- Civilian nuclear energy is another important area expected to be discussed.
- India and Russia have already cooperated in nuclear power and both sides are looking at opportunities to expand this partnership. Further cooperation could support India’s long term energy requirements.
Energy and Russian oil
- Energy is expected to be another major issue.
- Russia remains an important energy partner for India. The two countries are likely to discuss oil supplies and broader energy cooperation.
- The issue has become more important because of continuing geopolitical tensions and Western economic measures against Russia. Russia has strongly criticised recent U.S. tariff measures connected to countries buying Russian oil.
Trade between India and Russia
- Increasing trade and economic cooperation will also be discussed.
- India and Russia want to expand business ties beyond traditional areas such as defence and energy. Both countries are exploring new areas of cooperation, including technology, investment and critical minerals.
- Reports also indicate that rare earth minerals could become an area of greater cooperation between the two countries.
Ukraine war and global issues
- The Russia-Ukraine war is also an important background issue for the meeting.
- India has maintained a policy of engaging with both Russia and Western countries while calling for dialogue and a peaceful solution to the conflict.
- The timing of Modi and Putin’s meeting is significant because diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war are continuing. On Tuesday, Putin also spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about efforts to resolve the conflict and restore U.S.-Russia relations.
Why the meeting matters for India
- The Modi-Putin meeting will be closely watched because India wants to maintain strong relations with Russia while also expanding its partnerships with the United States, Europe and other countries.
- For India, Russia remains important in areas such as defence equipment, energy and nuclear cooperation. At the same time, India is seeking to increase trade and reduce risks caused by international sanctions and geopolitical tensions.
- The meeting could therefore help both countries identify new areas of cooperation while addressing challenges affecting their relationship.
What to watch on September 11
The main points to watch during the Modi-Putin talks will be:
- Possible cooperation on Su-57 fighter aircraft
- Defence technology and manufacturing in India
- Expansion of nuclear energy cooperation
- Russian oil and wider energy cooperation
- Increasing bilateral trade and investment
- Cooperation on rare earth and critical minerals
- The Russia-Ukraine conflict and peace efforts
- The changing global geopolitical situation
Bottom Line
The Modi-Putin meeting is expected to be an important opportunity for India and Russia to strengthen their strategic partnership. Defence and energy are likely to remain at the centre of the talks, while trade, nuclear power and new technologies could shape the next phase of the relationship.
The actual outcome will become clearer after the leaders meet on September 11.
