Politics · India Bureau
Putin reaffirms BRICS unity, vows deeper Russia-India partnership
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected characterizations of BRICS as an anti-Western bloc, pledging instead to strengthen Moscow's ties with India and expand cooperation across multiple sectors. The statement came during bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where India also pressed for safeguards for its seafarers amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
LSN India ·
Putin arrived in the Indian capital on Friday for a three-day visit centered on the BRICS summit, meeting with Modi hours after touching down. During their talks, the Russian leader emphasized that the BRICS grouping was not directed against any nation, and underscored Moscow's openness to engaging with countries worldwide despite Western sanctions imposed on Russia. Modi used the bilateral meeting to raise concerns about the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the Black Sea and reiterated India's position as a neutral party prepared to support genuine peace initiatives aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict.
At a gathering of BRICS business leaders preceding the formal summit, Putin outlined Moscow's readiness to collaborate with partner nations on major infrastructure and logistics ventures. He highlighted potential cooperation on the Arctic Transport Corridor and North-South Transport Corridor, alongside technological partnerships and artificial intelligence development, signaling Russia's intent to deepen economic engagement within the grouping despite international sanctions.
The bilateral meeting underscored the strategic importance India places on its relationship with Russia, even as New Delhi maintains its policy of not taking sides on geopolitical disputes. The two leaders traveled together following their talks, a gesture emphasizing the strength of their bilateral relationship.