Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold two meetings within a span of just a few weeks, underlining the continuing importance of the India-Russia strategic partnership amid a rapidly changing global environment.
Putin indicated during his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Moscow on August 24 that he expected to meet Prime Minister Modi at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The two leaders are also expected to meet again when India hosts the BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September.
The SCO leaders’ summit is scheduled to take place in Bishkek on August 31 and September 1, while the BRICS Summit is scheduled for September 12 and 13 in New Delhi. The back-to-back engagements could provide Modi and Putin with opportunities to discuss a wide range of bilateral and international issues, including trade, energy, defence, technology and regional security.
The expected meetings come at a time when India-Russia economic cooperation is expanding significantly. During Jaishankar’s Moscow visit, discussions with Russian leadership focused on strengthening cooperation in areas including energy, fertilisers, nuclear power, high technology, investment and trade. Russia has also indicated its readiness to increase fertiliser supplies to India.
India and Russia have maintained close defence and strategic relations for decades, with defence cooperation continuing to remain an important component of the bilateral partnership. At the same time, economic ties have gained greater prominence, particularly following the substantial increase in India’s purchases of Russian energy and other commodities.
According to the reference report, bilateral trade has increased more than fourfold over the past five years, reaching nearly $60 billion in FY2026 from around $13 billion in FY2022. Energy purchases, including crude oil, along with coal, fertilisers and other commodities have been major contributors to this growth.
The two upcoming meetings are separate from the India-Russia Annual Summit mechanism. The next annual summit has not yet been given a confirmed date, although both sides have indicated their intention to continue the established high-level dialogue. Putin’s expected visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit could nevertheless provide another important platform for the two leaders to review the broader strategic relationship.
Putin last visited India in December 2025 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across defence, energy, nuclear power, connectivity, technology, trade and other strategic sectors.
With Modi and Putin potentially meeting twice in a short period, the upcoming SCO and BRICS gatherings are likely to attract close attention for signals on the future direction of India-Russia relations. The discussions could also highlight how New Delhi and Moscow intend to deepen strategic and economic cooperation while navigating an increasingly complex international environment.