11 September,2026 05:58 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in car while heading towards Bharat Mandapam (Pic/Screengrab from X@IANS)
Just ahead of BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi, PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin yet again displayed their warm camaraderie. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled in the same car to visit the INNOPROM Exhibition, immediately after ending their bilateral discussions at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday.
According to IANS, PM Modi and Putin showcased the same bonhomie in Kyrgyzstan on August 31 when they travelled in the same car to the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games after their bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.
Last year too, PM Modi and Putin had travelled in the same car to the venue of the bilateral meeting in China's Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Leaders' Summit.
Dubbed as PM Modi's "car diplomacy" or 'carplomacy' by analysts, both the leaders meeting inside the car has now become a huge talking point on various social media platforms. During their meeting in New Delhi on Friday, PM Modi presented a Russian translation of the Thirukkural to Putin.
The meeting between the two leaders comes ahead of the BRICS Summit set to be hosted by India on September 12-13.
Earlier in the day, Putin arrived in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received him at the airport in New Delhi, as per IANS.
Upon Putin's arrival, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while posting on X, wrote, "Warmly welcome President Vladimir Putin of Russia for the 18th BRICS Summit." He was received by MoS @KVSinghMPGonda at the airport. India and Russia share multifaceted and longstanding ties anchored in Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership".
India's BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", reflecting PM Modi's vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the spirit of "Humanity First". In addition, the leaders will exchange views on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation on common priorities and share perspectives on global and regional matters of mutual importance.
(With inputs from IANS)
