Jaishankar holds 4 key bilateral meets on BRICS sidelines in Delhi
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Delhi, EAM Jaishankar held four back-to-back bilaterals — with Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, and Maldives — covering strategic partnerships, energy, trade, and India's Neighbourhood First policy. The diplomatic sprint signals India's use of BRICS as a platform for targeted bilateral outreach, not just bloc-level messaging.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar held four bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on 14 May .
He met Indonesian FM Sugiono to review the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and ASEAN cooperation.
His bilateral with Russian FM Sergei Lavrov covered trade, energy, connectivity, science and technology, and people mobility under the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership .
Jaishankar met Brazilian FM Mauro Vieira on bilateral, regional, and global issues.
In talks with Maldivian FM Iruthisham Adam , he stressed India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and commitment to Maldives' development.
BRICS foreign ministers and delegation heads are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday, 14 May conducted a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, engaging counterparts from Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, and the Maldives on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
India-Indonesia: Strategic Partnership and ASEAN
Jaishankar met Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono to review progress on the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the two nations' cooperation within the ASEAN framework. 'Glad to welcome FM Sugiono of Indonesia. Reviewed the progress of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and our cooperation with ASEAN,' Jaishankar said in a post on X.
India-Russia: Trade, Energy, and Connectivity
On Wednesday, Jaishankar held a bilateral with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Delhi, describing it as 'a productive exchange of views.' The two ministers covered multiple pillars of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, energy and connectivity, science and technology, and the facilitation of mobility of skills and talent. 'Other global and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed,' Jaishankar noted in his post on X.
Brazil and Maldives: Regional and Neighbourhood Ties
Jaishankar also met Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, where the two exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and global issues. In his meeting with Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam, Jaishankar highlighted India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, reviewed the state of bilateral cooperation, and reiterated India's commitment to the Maldives' progress and development.
BRICS Meeting: Scope and Participation
Jaishankar is chairing the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Delhi on Thursday. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), foreign ministers and heads of delegations from BRICS member and partner countries are participating in the meeting and are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The forum provides an opportunity for member nations to exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual interest.
The diplomatic flurry underscores India's intent to use the BRICS platform not merely for multilateral signalling but as a launchpad for substantive bilateral engagement — a pattern that is likely to continue as the meeting concludes.
Point of View
Invoking 'Neighbourhood First' publicly is a calibrated reset. India is using its BRICS chairmanship not just to set the multilateral agenda but to stack bilateral wins — and the combination reveals a foreign policy that is transactional, confident, and unapologetically multi-aligned.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries did EAM Jaishankar meet at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Delhi?
Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, and the Maldives on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on 14 and 15 May 2025.
What was discussed in the Jaishankar-Lavrov meeting?
Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, covering trade and investment, energy and connectivity, science and technology, and the mobility of skills and talent, along with other global and multilateral issues.
What is the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Delhi about?
The meeting brings together foreign ministers and heads of delegations from BRICS member and partner countries to exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual interest. India's EAM Jaishankar is chairing the session, and participants are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What did Jaishankar discuss with the Maldivian Foreign Minister?
In his meeting with Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam, Jaishankar highlighted India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, reviewed bilateral cooperation, and reiterated India's commitment to the Maldives' progress and development.
What is India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia?
The India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a framework for deepening bilateral ties across political, economic, defence, and people-to-people dimensions, including cooperation within ASEAN. Jaishankar and Indonesian FM Sugiono reviewed progress on this partnership at the BRICS sidelines meeting.
