Prabowo Shares Warm Exchange with Modi, Putin ahead of BRICS Summit

NEW DELHI — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was seen sharing a warm and informal exchange with several of the world’s most influential leaders ahead of the opening session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday.

The brief conversation took place at Bharat Mandapam, where President Prabowo spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping before the official proceedings of the summit began.

Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya described the encounter as friendly and cordial, offering a glimpse of the personal diplomacy taking place alongside the formal agenda of the major multilateral gathering.

“The four leaders appeared to be chatting in a warm and friendly atmosphere before the opening session began,” Teddy said in a written statement.

President Prabowo was initially seen with President Putin before Prime Minister Modi and President Xi joined the conversation, bringing together four leaders whose countries play increasingly important roles in shaping regional and global political and economic relations.

While the exchange was brief, the moment underscored the value of informal engagement between leaders during major international summits, where conversations outside formal sessions can help build trust and strengthen channels of communication.

For President Prabowo, the encounter also reflected the personal dimension of Indonesia’s diplomacy as the country continues to expand its engagement across major international forums.

Indonesia has consistently emphasised the importance of maintaining open relations and constructive cooperation with countries across different geopolitical groupings, guided by the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Prabowo’s participation in the BRICS Summit reflects Jakarta’s commitment to playing an active role in international affairs while strengthening partnerships with countries that are strategically important to Indonesia’s economic, political and regional interests.

India, Russia and China are among Indonesia’s significant partners at both the regional and global levels, with relations spanning trade, investment, strategic cooperation and wider diplomatic engagement.

The relaxed atmosphere ahead of the summit’s opening session provided a symbolic reminder that, beyond formal declarations and official negotiations, international diplomacy is also shaped by relationships between leaders and the ability to maintain open lines of communication.

As BRICS continues to bring together major emerging economies and influential voices from across the Global South, Indonesia’s presence at the summit further signals its ambition to remain actively engaged in the evolving architecture of global cooperation.