PM Modi: High Stakes Meetings with Putin Today and Xi Jinping Tomorrow

The 18th BRICS Leaders Summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on 12-13 September, marking the conclusion of India's year-long BRICS presidency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the summit at Bharat Mandapam, where leaders from member nations will gather to deliberate on economic cooperation, technology, energy, food security, global governance, and significant geopolitical issues. The summit will see the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also attend the conference.

Bilateral Meeting with Vladimir Putin

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold an important bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday at 3:30 PM. This meeting follows their recent interaction during the SCO Summit, while the discussions are expected to cover a wide range of bilateral and international issues. President Putin will be in India from 11-13 September for the 18th BRICS Summit. On 11 September, he's scheduled to address the plenary session of the BRICS Business Forum and hold a bilateral meeting with PM Modi. Both leaders will also visit the INNOPROM India Exhibition, organized by the ministries of industry and trade of both nations.

Security Arrangements for President Putin

The Maurya Hotel, where President Putin will be staying, has been transformed into a fortress. A strong four-layer security cover has been established for his protection, while the first layer consists of the Close Protection Team (CPT), which will remain with the President at all times. The second layer is the inner security circle comprising senior officers from the Delhi Police. The third or middle layer will include Delhi Police commandos and paramilitary force personnel, while the outermost layer will be managed by the local police with heavy deployment in and around the hotel area. On top of that, President Putin will be accompanied by his own security team of approximately 25 to 30 commandos. Senior officials have been tasked with overseeing the security of hotels housing foreign heads of state, with Special CP and Crime rank officers commanding the operations.

Meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian

Following his meeting with Putin, PM Modi is scheduled to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at 6:15 PM on Friday. This meeting is considered highly significant given the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The two leaders are expected to discuss regional stability and bilateral cooperation.

Crucial Dialogue with Xi Jinping

On Saturday at 6:00 PM, Prime Minister Modi is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting is particularly noteworthy as it's Xi Jinping's first visit to India in nearly seven years. Sources indicate that the two leaders may review the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and discuss steps to normalize bilateral relations, including increasing trade and investment, while president Xi will be accompanied by a large delegation of approximately 400 officials, which is more than double the size of the delegation that accompanied him in 2019. This visit comes at a time when both nations are attempting to stabilize relations after prolonged border tensions.

BRICS Summit Agenda and Schedule

The main program of the BRICS Summit will commence on 12 September. The leaders will discuss initiatives undertaken during India's BRICS presidency and focus on strengthening strategic partnerships in areas such as politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties. There will also be an exchange of views on current international and regional issues. On 13 September, an Expanded BRICS Meeting will be held, involving heads of delegations from member and partner countries, as well as invited nations and international organizations. The summit is expected to conclude with the recording of major agreements and consensus in a Final Document. Ahead of the summit, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos of Ethiopia and Foreign Minister Edouard Bizimana of Burundi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday.