New Delhi : Ahead of the BRICS summit, a bilateral meeting is taking place today between PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Bharat Mandapam. Discussions during this meeting are expected to cover issues related to trade, energy, and defense.

A sense of warmth was evident between the two leaders during the meeting. At Bharat Mandapam, PM Modi and President Putin shook hands and embraced. PM Modi presented President Putin with a Russian edition of the Thirukkural, a book by the Tamil saint and poet Thiruvalluvar.

While presenting the Thirukkural to Putin, PM Modi remarked that the book would play a significant role in strengthening cultural ties. Saint Thiruvalluvar has elucidated various aspects of human life in this work.

The Thirukkural is one of the greatest and most renowned works of Tamil literature. It is also known as the ‘Tamil Veda’ and was written approximately 2,000 years ago.

Key Issues in the Modi-Putin Bilateral Meeting

• Ambitious trade target: A bilateral trade goal of US$ 100 billion by 2030.
• INNOPROM in India: Enhancing industrial cooperation with Russia.
• ​​Cooperation in the rail sector and tunneling.
• Development of the steel value chain; increasing B2B opportunities and access to the Russian market.
• Strengthening civil nuclear cooperation, including fuel cycle and life-cycle support.
• Enhancing cooperation in mobility: Increasing the number of skilled Indian workers in Russia.
• ​​Cooperation regarding critical minerals.
• Sustaining and expanding cooperation in the fertilizer sector through strategic joint venture (JV) projects. This summit in Delhi is taking place at a time when the global economy is grappling with the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asia crisis (particularly the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz), and the adverse effects of the Trump administration’s trade and tariff policies.

The BRICS group now comprises 11 nations: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Data indicates that collectively, these countries account for approximately 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP, and 26% of global trade.

In the current context marked by geopolitical uncertainties and climate change India’s presidency is viewed as a crucial step toward advancing the interests of the Global South and driving reforms within global institutions.

Report – Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)