NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during his upcoming four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Modi is scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 before heading to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO summit from August 31 to September 1. The visit is expected to reinforce India's engagement with Central Asia and provide an opportunity for discussions with several major regional leaders.
The anticipated Modi-Putin meeting comes at an important moment for India-Russia relations, with both countries seeking to expand cooperation in trade, energy, fertilisers, nuclear power, technology and other strategic sectors.
Putin meeting takes centre stage
The meeting with Putin is expected to be one of the most closely watched engagements during Modi's trip.
Putin recently indicated that he was looking forward to meeting Modi at the SCO summit. The Russian president also credited the Indian prime minister with paying close personal attention to the development of bilateral relations.
The two leaders are also expected to meet again later this year when Putin travels to India for the BRICS summit.
The upcoming SCO interaction will therefore provide an opportunity to prepare the ground for broader bilateral discussions expected during Putin's India visit.
Trade and energy on the agenda
Economic cooperation is likely to feature prominently in the Modi-Putin discussions.
India and Russia have maintained strong energy ties despite major changes in the global geopolitical environment. Bilateral discussions have increasingly focused on oil, fertilisers, nuclear energy, technology and expanding trade.
During his recent meeting with Putin, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed Modi's message to the Russian president and discussed a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, energy, fertilisers, nuclear cooperation, connectivity, technology and space.
Russia has also assured India that it will continue supplying fertilisers, an issue of particular importance for Indian agriculture.
India seeks to expand trade
Although India-Russia trade has grown significantly in recent years, the relationship faces an important challenge: the large trade imbalance between the two countries.
Indian officials have been seeking greater market access for Indian exports to Russia while encouraging investment and cooperation in sectors beyond traditional energy imports.
Jaishankar has described correcting the trade imbalance as a priority. Both sides have also been discussing a long-term target of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.
The Modi-Putin meeting could provide political momentum to these efforts.
SCO summit brings major powers together
Modi's visit comes as the SCO prepares for its annual leaders' summit in Bishkek.
The organisation brings together major powers including India, Russia, China and other Central Asian states. The summit provides a platform for discussions on regional security, connectivity, economic cooperation and other international issues.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend the summit, adding further significance to Modi's participation.
Modi is expected to hold bilateral discussions with several SCO leaders on the margins of the summit.
Central Asia gains importance
The Uzbekistan leg of Modi's trip will focus on India's expanding relationship with Central Asia.
India has been strengthening cooperation with Uzbekistan in areas including trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, education, information technology, health and critical minerals. Indian officials say bilateral trade and investment between the two countries are approaching the $1 billion mark.
Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, will host the SCO summit, placing Bishkek at the centre of high-level diplomatic activity.
For New Delhi, greater engagement with Central Asia is also important for connectivity and economic diversification.
China dimension adds significance
Modi's SCO visit is also expected to attract attention because India-China relations have recently shown signs of diplomatic movement.
Indian and Chinese officials have been holding discussions aimed at improving bilateral ties and maintaining peace along their disputed border. Senior officials have also been preparing for possible meetings between Modi and Xi at upcoming multilateral events.
A Modi-Putin meeting alongside the SCO summit could therefore take place against the backdrop of shifting relations among the three major Asian powers.
More meetings expected later this year
The Bishkek meeting is unlikely to be the final high-level interaction between Modi and Putin in 2026.
Putin is expected to travel to India for the BRICS summit in September, where the two leaders could hold another bilateral meeting. An annual India-Russia summit is also expected later in the year.
The sequence of meetings indicates that New Delhi and Moscow are seeking to maintain regular political dialogue while expanding cooperation in strategic and economic areas.
A key diplomatic moment for New Delhi
Modi's upcoming Central Asian tour comes at a time when India is balancing relationships with Russia, China, the United States and other major powers.
The meeting with Putin will underline the continued importance of the India-Russia partnership, while Modi's participation in the SCO summit will allow India to engage simultaneously with a wider group of Asian powers.
With trade, energy security, fertiliser supplies, nuclear cooperation and regional stability all likely to feature in discussions, the Modi-Putin meeting could become an important milestone in the two countries' efforts to deepen their longstanding strategic relationship.
For India, the SCO summit offers a broader diplomatic platform; for Moscow, the meeting provides another opportunity to reinforce ties with one of its most important partners. The outcome of the talks could help shape the agenda for Putin's expected India visit and the next phase of India-Russia relations.