External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will arrive in Russia on 23-24 August 2026 for a two-day official visit to build India-Russia relations and enhance it. In the course of his visit, Jaishankar will co-chair the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).
The visit is also timely given India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13. India took the seat of the BRICS chairmanship for 2026 on January 1 with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Trade and Economic Cooperation
A major focus in Jaishankar’s Russia visit will be bilateral economic cooperation. The inter-governmental commission will provide the opportunity for both countries to review ongoing projects and new business opportunities and strengthen trade relations.
Trade diversification, investment, industrial cooperation and connectivity will continue to be important areas of cooperation as India and Russia hope to broaden their economic relationship beyond traditional sectors.
Science, Technology and Innovation
Scientific and technological cooperation is also a key point of discussion in the upcoming discussions. The IRIGC-TEC covers the broad spectrum of technological, research and innovation-oriented areas and the two sides get to see how such collaboration can be achieved.
This is particularly relevant as India is more focused on technology, digital infrastructure and innovation in its BRICS chairmanship. Recent BRICS meetings have already highlighted the need for artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and next-generation communications.
BRICS Summit Preparations
Jaishankar’s Moscow visit also comes just weeks before the BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi. The summit will be expected to bring together leaders from the widened group of 11 members.
With India hosting the summit, discussions with Russia could help to reach consensus on key issues ahead of the leaders’ meeting. Recent BRICS ministerial talks have also shown that differences among members can make agreement on geopolitical issues challenging.
Geopolitics In Focus
The international environment is also an important setting. BRICS are looking to play a bigger role for emerging economies in global affairs although India is always in balance with Russia, the United States, Europe and other actors around the world.
In this respect Jaishankar’s visit is important beyond bilateral ties. It comes at a time when India is on the verge of hosting one of the most significant diplomatic events on its 2026 calendar.
The September BRICS summit will give India an opportunity to showcase its priorities for economic cooperation, technology, sustainability and global governance. Jaishankar’s talks in Moscow could help set the diplomatic groundwork for those talks.
