BRICS Summit: Modi's bilateral meetings put defence, security cooperation in focus
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings with leaders from Asia and Africa on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday (September 13, 2026), with defence and security cooperation featuring prominently alongside trade, technology and strategic partnerships.
Mr Modi met Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Ugandan Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima Mustapha, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who is also chairperson of the African Union.
Philippines: a growing defence partner
The meeting with Mr Marcos of the Philippines is significant for India's defence outreach in Southeast Asia. The two leaders agreed to further deepen cooperation in defence and security, along with trade and investment, space, railways, fintech, education, and science and technology and innovation.
The Philippines, which became a strategic partner of India in August 2025, is a key defence partner in the region. It has emerged as an important customer for Indian defence equipment, particularly the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. It is the first foreign customer for BrahMos under a $375-million deal, with deliveries and training currently under way.
Kazakhstan and Central Asia
Defence and security also figured prominently in Mr Modi's discussions with Kazakhstan President Tokayev. The two sides reviewed cooperation in these fields as well as in connectivity, energy, critical minerals and emerging technologies. Kazakhstan remains an important Central Asian partner for India, which has been working to expand its strategic and security engagement with the region.
Malaysia discussions
The defence dimension of India's engagement with Southeast Asia also drew attention during the BRICS-related diplomacy. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said exploratory discussions were under way on Kuala Lumpur acquiring the BrahMos missile system, though no final decision had been taken.
Africa: trade, security and capacity building
With Nigeria, Mr Modi discussed defence and security alongside trade, investment, energy, agriculture, health and digital technologies. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership.
The wider engagements underlined India's push for greater security cooperation with African partners. Discussions with Uganda focused on technology partnerships, capacity building and private-sector collaboration, while the meeting with the African Union Chairperson covered development partnership and capacity building.
India also held a separate bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, a fellow BRICS member. South Africa, Brazil, Russia and China are the grouping's founding members, and the bloc has expanded in recent years to include additional countries from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Taken together, the meetings highlighted New Delhi's effort to use the BRICS platform to reinforce defence partnerships, capacity building and indigenous defence exports, while widening India's strategic footprint across the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia and Africa.
India has in recent years sought to position itself as a supplier of defence equipment to partner countries, while maintaining that such cooperation is aimed at strengthening the capabilities of friendly nations. The details of the agreements and discussions announced so far remain those placed on record by the government and the leaders involved.
