Modi holds defence-focused bilateral talks at BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with a focus on deepening defence, security, and trade cooperation. The summit, hosted by India on September 12-13, provided a platform for Modi to engage with counterparts from Asia and Africa. Modi held 15 sit-down bilateral meetings with heads of state or government over three days, according to government sources. Among the key engagements were discussions with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The meeting with President Marcos was particularly significant for India's defence outreach in Southeast Asia. The two leaders agreed to further deepen cooperation in defence and security, trade and investment, space, railways, fintech, education, science and technology, and innovation.