On the sidelines of the ongoing BRICS MENA Consultations, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (South), Neena Malhotra, held a meeting with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Georgy Borisenko, to discuss recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, along with key aspects of bilateral cooperation.
According to an official update shared by Ministry of External Affairs via its social media platform X, the interaction took place in a constructive and cordial atmosphere. The two sides engaged in what was described as a “productive exchange of views” on evolving geopolitical dynamics in the MENA region, which continues to remain strategically significant due to ongoing conflicts, energy concerns, and shifting diplomatic alignments.
The discussions also covered various dimensions of India–Russia relations, reflecting the longstanding and traditionally close ties between the two countries. Both officials explored avenues to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, though specific details of these discussions were not publicly disclosed.
The meeting gains importance in the context of the broader multilateral engagement under the framework of BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and has been expanding its dialogue outreach to regions such as MENA. These consultations aim to enhance cooperation and understanding on regional and global issues among member states and partner regions.
India and Russia share a “special and privileged strategic partnership,” characterized by cooperation in defense, energy, trade, and multilateral platforms. Regular high-level engagements between officials from both countries underscore their commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic coordination on regional and global matters.
The BRICS MENA consultations provide an important platform for dialogue on pressing international developments, particularly at a time when geopolitical shifts in West Asia and North Africa continue to influence global security and economic stability.