New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a packed diplomatic schedule on Friday as the 18th BRICS Summit gets underway in New Delhi, with several world leaders arriving in the national capital for the high-level gathering.
Among the prominent leaders in Delhi is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived at the Palam Air Force Station after midnight to participate in the summit. Putin is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi on Friday, with discussions expected to cover key areas of bilateral cooperation and international developments.
Besides Putin, PM Modi is scheduled to meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during the day.
Modi-Putin Meeting to Be Key Diplomatic Engagement
The bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Putin is expected to take place at around 3:30 pm on Friday.
The meeting is likely to be closely watched given the longstanding strategic partnership between India and Russia and the wider geopolitical developments confronting the international community.
The two leaders are expected to review bilateral cooperation and exchange views on major global and regional issues.
Putin’s arrival in Delhi also adds significance to the BRICS gathering, where Russia remains an important member of the grouping.
PM Modi to Meet UN Chief António Guterres
Following his meeting with Putin, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The discussions are expected to provide an opportunity to exchange views on pressing international challenges, multilateral cooperation and global institutions.
India has consistently called for greater representation and reform of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, making Modi’s interaction with the UN chief an important diplomatic engagement.
Talks With Iranian President and Indonesian Leader
Later in the evening, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at around 6:15 pm.
The meeting is expected to focus on bilateral relations as well as broader regional and international developments.
Around an hour later, Modi is scheduled to meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, adding another important engagement to the Prime Minister’s busy diplomatic calendar.
The meetings with leaders from Iran and Indonesia will give India an opportunity to strengthen bilateral engagement while discussing shared interests in trade, connectivity, development and regional stability.
Delhi Under High Security for BRICS Summit
With several foreign leaders attending the summit, security arrangements across the national capital have been significantly strengthened.
Nearly 30,000 security personnel have been deployed across Delhi, including around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces.
Security teams have been positioned around the summit venue, airports, hotels hosting foreign dignitaries and designated VVIP routes.
Anti-Drone Systems Deployed at Strategic Locations
As part of the enhanced security arrangements, anti-drone systems have been installed at around 14 strategic locations across central, south and southwest Delhi.
These locations include Bharat Mandapam, where the summit is being held, as well as hotels accommodating visiting foreign leaders.
The systems are intended to monitor the skies along important routes connecting Indira Gandhi International Airport and Palam Air Force Station with hotels, the summit venue and other sensitive locations.
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar has also imposed a comprehensive restriction on the operation of drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely piloted aircraft, paragliders and hot-air balloons across the national capital from September 10 to September 14 under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Summit Security Divided Into Four Zones
Officials have divided the massive security operation into four major regions — airports, hotels, designated VVIP routes and Bharat Mandapam.
Each region is being supervised by a Special Commissioner of Police and supported by senior police officials.
The security framework has subsequently been divided into nine zones, headed by Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 27 sectors, overseen by ACPs and inspectors.
This layered arrangement is designed to ensure close monitoring of the movements of foreign dignitaries and rapid response to any security concerns.
NSG and Specialised Teams Deployed
Trained commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG) and Delhi Police will be deployed at Bharat Mandapam and the hotels where foreign dignitaries are staying.
At least 200 police control room vans have also been positioned at strategic locations across the city. The vehicles will remain mobile during the summit to facilitate quick response to emergencies.
Authorities have also carried out verification of hotel staff, catering workers and sanitation personnel working at sensitive locations.
Those cleared after verification have been issued temporary identification cards to regulate access to restricted areas.
Global Leaders Gather in New Delhi
The extensive security arrangements come as New Delhi hosts one of the year’s major international diplomatic gatherings.
With leaders and senior representatives from BRICS countries and other participating nations in the capital, the summit is expected to feature discussions on global political developments, economic cooperation, multilateral reforms and other international challenges.
For India, the summit also provides an important diplomatic platform for engaging with major global powers and strengthening bilateral relationships.
PM Modi’s series of meetings with Putin, Guterres, Pezeshkian and Prabowo is expected to add further significance to the summit’s diplomatic agenda.
