Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Visit New Delhi for BRICS Meeting
Upcoming Visit of Sergey Lavrov to India
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to visit New Delhi on May 14 and 15. According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, the primary purpose of this visit is to participate in the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting.
Rudenko informed that Lavrov's attendance at the BRICS ministerial meeting will focus on outlining the final documents to be presented during the BRICS summit, which will be chaired by India this year. Additionally, Lavrov is expected to undertake a separate working visit to meet with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and other officials, as reported by Rudenko.
India is scheduled to assume the presidency of BRICS in 2026. This group was established in 2006, with South Africa joining the original members Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2011. Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia became full members in 2024, while Indonesia is set to join in 2025. Since early last year, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan have officially gained partner status, with Nigeria also receiving this status on January 17.
Earlier, on March 23, Lavrov expressed Moscow's desire to maintain high-level diplomatic relations with New Delhi, emphasizing the enduring nature of their bilateral partnership.
While addressing participants at the 'Second International Conference Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations,' Lavrov expressed eagerness to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia in 2026. He described the relationship as a 'time-tested friendship' that exemplifies inter-state relations built on equality, mutual trust, and respect, while considering each other's interests. This upcoming visit follows the significant diplomatic groundwork laid during President Vladimir Putin's anticipated visit to India at the end of 2025. Lavrov noted that after Putin's trip to New Delhi in December 2025, the alignment of strategic objectives between Russia and India was confirmed, leading to the signing of several important documents, including policy papers.