PM Modi to hold talks with Putin at SCO Summit in Bishkek

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from August 31 to September 1. A significant event during this visit will be a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled on the sidelines of the summit. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, aiming to review the entire gamut of India-Russia relations. [8, 10, 12, 22] This meeting gains prominence as it follows recent high-level interactions between Indian officials and Russian leadership, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's meeting with President Putin in Moscow. During that meeting, Putin conveyed his best wishes to PM Modi and expressed anticipation for their upcoming encounter at the SCO Summit. [10, 15, 22] The Prime Minister's visit to Kyrgyzstan is part of a broader four-day tour that also includes a State Visit to Uzbekistan from August 29-30. In Uzbekistan, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to bolster the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan, focusing on areas such as trade, investment, defense, digital connectivity, energy, education, and people-to-people ties. [23, 24, 27, 28] The SCO Summit itself, marking the organization's 25th anniversary, is a crucial platform for India to articulate its foreign policy objectives. India, a full member of the SCO since 2017, has consistently prioritized countering terrorism, separatism, and extremism, alongside promoting regional connectivity and socio-economic development. [7, 14, 23] PM Modi is expected to highlight India's key priorities at the forum: Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity. [10, 23, 28] The SCO, established in 2001, is a Eurasian economic, political, and security bloc. [16] India's participation in the SCO is seen as a strategic move to balance its engagement with various global powers and enhance its outreach to the Global South, particularly in the Eurasian region. It provides a platform to engage with Central Asian countries, crucial for India's energy security and trade routes, and to counterbalance the influence of other major powers in the region. [7, 17] The summit in Bishkek is expected to address the evolving security scenario in the region. [28] India's approach at the SCO has been to advocate for a development-focused agenda, emphasizing cooperation in areas like healthcare, economic development, alternate energy, culture, and humanitarian assistance, while maintaining a firm stance against terrorism. [5, 18] During his stay in Kyrgyzstan, PM Modi is also slated to attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, an event that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia and offers another avenue for cultural and people-to-people engagement. [23, 27, 28] Past SCO summits have seen significant bilateral interactions, including meetings between PM Modi and President Putin, where discussions have covered defense, energy, trade, and investment. [11, 18] The meeting in Bishkek is anticipated to continue this trend, with a particular focus on economic cooperation and energy security, especially in the context of global supply chain disruptions. [10, 13] The source article appears to be based on information released around August 27, 2026, indicating future events. The SCO Summit in Bishkek is scheduled for August 31 to September 1. [8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28]

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