Modi to strengthen India-Russia ties during 16th Brics Summit.

Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Russia to attend the 16th Brics Summit in Kazan, where he is set to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders from Brics member nations. In a statement, PM Modi emphasized India’s commitment to the close cooperation within Brics, highlighting its role as a crucial platform for dialogue on global development, climate change, and economic collaboration. He noted that his visit would further reinforce the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" between India and Russia.

The summit comes amid ongoing global unrest, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Middle East crisis. India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, reaffirmed India's advocacy for peace through dialogue and diplomacy, emphasizing the need for all parties to engage in conflict resolution. This sentiment aligns with Putin's recent acknowledgment of Modi as a "friend," expressing gratitude for India’s support in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war.

This marks PM Modi's second visit to Russia this year, following the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in July, during which he received Russia’s highest civilian honor, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. Notably, ahead of the summit, India and China agreed to resume patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, a significant breakthrough in diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two-day summit, themed "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security," will serve as an important platform for discussing key global issues and assessing collaborative initiatives within the nine-nation alliance.