Putin holds talks with BRICS leaders as Russia seeks deeper ties across Global South

Russian President Vladimir Putin used a series of high-level meetings ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi to reinforce Moscow's political and economic partnerships with countries across Africa and Asia. He also received backing from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral cooperation.

Meeting separately with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Putin focused on expanding trade, education, energy and technology links as Russia looks to strengthen relationships beyond its traditional partners.

The diplomatic engagements came a day before the opening of the 18th BRICS summit, where leaders from major emerging economies are expected to discuss trade, development, security and the impact of ongoing conflicts on global markets.

During talks with Ramaphosa, Putin highlighted what he described as the steady development of relations between Moscow and Pretoria.

The Russian leader pointed to growing trade, educational cooperation and increased exchanges between the two countries.

He also announced that Russia had expanded scholarship opportunities for South African students, part of a wider effort to deepen people-to-people ties.

Ramaphosa welcomed the continued cooperation and signalled South Africa's intention to play an active role in the upcoming Russia-Africa summit scheduled to take place in Moscow later this year.

The two leaders also discussed international affairs, with Putin thanking South Africa for supporting a number of Russian initiatives at the United Nations.

Egypt remains a key strategic partner

Putin's meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi focused heavily on trade and major infrastructure projects.

Both leaders noted that commercial ties between their countries have continued to expand, with bilateral trade exceeding $10 billion. Among the largest joint projects is the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, being constructed by Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom.

Food security also featured prominently in the discussions. Egypt remains one of the world's largest importers of wheat, and stable grain supplies from Russia are considered critical for the country's food needs.

El-Sisi stressed the importance of maintaining economic cooperation while also expressing support for efforts aimed at promoting stability across the Middle East and North Africa.

Putin invited the Egyptian leader to attend the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, underscoring Egypt's importance in Russia's engagement strategy on the African continent.

Malaysia ties continue to expand

In discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, economic cooperation dominated the agenda.

Putin noted that trade between the two countries increased significantly over the past year, while both leaders discussed opportunities in energy, tourism, education and technology.

As Russia seeks to diversify trade relationships amid continuing geopolitical tensions, Southeast Asia has become an increasingly important destination for economic and diplomatic outreach.

Modi and Putin reaffirm strategic partnership

Putin's visit to India also included talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reaffirmed New Delhi's commitment to maintaining strong relations with Moscow.

The meeting was the second between the two leaders in recent weeks and reflected the importance both countries place on their long-standing partnership.

According to India's Foreign Ministry, the discussions covered defence cooperation, energy security and the impact of ongoing conflicts on global trade routes.

The leaders also exchanged views on tensions in the Middle East and the Black Sea region, which have disrupted shipping routes and affected international commerce.

Modi reiterated India's position that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and said New Delhi remained supportive of efforts to promote peace.

Energy remains at the centre of the relationship

One of the most significant pillars of India-Russia relations remains energy.

India has become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil, alongside China. As supply disruptions have affected parts of the Middle East, Indian refiners have increasingly relied on Russian imports to meet domestic demand.

New Delhi has repeatedly defended its purchases of Russian energy, arguing that a country of more than a billion people requires stable and affordable fuel supplies.

The strong energy relationship has helped drive a sharp rise in bilateral trade, with both governments aiming to increase annual trade volumes to $100 billion by 2030.

Putin arrived in India ahead of a BRICS summit expected to attract leaders from across the developing world, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The gathering comes at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and differing views within the bloc on international conflicts.

Despite those divisions, Russia is using the summit to showcase its diplomatic reach and strengthen economic partnerships across Africa, Asia and the broader Global South, while simultaneously deepening strategic ties with India and other key BRICS members.

Read More: 

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• Iran says it will soon join BRICS development bank

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