Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with Malaysia, Uganda and Cuba at BRICS FMM
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, EAM Jaishankar held four bilateral meetings in a single day — with Malaysia, Uganda, Cuba, and Iran — and signed an MoU with Cuba formalising regular diplomatic consultations. The blitz of engagements signals India's intent to use its 2026 BRICS chairship as a launchpad for deepening ties across the Global South.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar held bilateral talks with counterparts from Malaysia , Uganda , Cuba , and Iran on 15 May 2026 in New Delhi .
India and Malaysia reviewed progress on their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and PM Modi's earlier visit to Malaysia.
Talks with Uganda focused on food security , health , technology collaboration, and business linkages through the Indian diaspora.
India and Cuba exchanged an MoU to formalise regular consultations between their foreign ministries.
Jaishankar also discussed the West Asia situation with Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi earlier in the day.
All meetings were held on the sidelines of the BRICS India 2026 Foreign Ministers' Meeting hosted in New Delhi.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, 15 May held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Malaysia, Uganda, and Cuba on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in New Delhi, signalling India's intent to deepen engagement across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America under its 2026 BRICS chairship.
India-Malaysia: Reviewing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Jaishankar met his Malaysian counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, with both sides reviewing the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. The discussions also covered follow-up action on outcomes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Malaysia earlier in 2026. 'Always good to meet FM Mohamad Hasan of Malaysia. Reviewed the progress of our comprehensive strategic partnership, including follow-up on the outcomes from PM Narendra Modi's visit to Malaysia earlier this year,' Jaishankar posted on X.
India-Uganda: Food Security, Health and Technology Linkages
Jaishankar also met Uganda's Foreign Minister Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, with the two sides exploring ways to expand bilateral cooperation across key sectors. Discussions centred on food security, health security, experience sharing through technology, and strengthening business linkages facilitated by the Indian diaspora. 'Our longstanding cooperation continues to advance,' Jaishankar noted in his post on X following the meeting.
India-Cuba: MoU on Diplomatic Consultations Signed
In a notable development, Jaishankar held talks with Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, during which both sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in health, development partnership, and capacity building. The two nations also exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for regular diplomatic consultations between their respective foreign ministries — a step that formalises the bilateral engagement framework. 'Glad to meet FM Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla of Cuba. Discussed cooperation focusing on health, development partnership and capacity building. Also exchanged an MoU on holding regular consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries,' Jaishankar posted on X.
Earlier in the Day: Talks with Iran on West Asia
Earlier on Friday, Jaishankar also met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in New Delhi, where the two leaders exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia and its wider regional implications, alongside bilateral matters of mutual interest. Jaishankar welcomed Araghchi's participation in the BRICS FMM, calling the conversation 'detailed' in his post on X. This comes amid heightened diplomatic activity as India leverages its BRICS chairship to advance bilateral agendas with a wide range of partner nations.
India's BRICS 2026 Diplomatic Push
The flurry of bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the BRICS India 2026 FMM underscores New Delhi's strategy of using multilateral platforms to advance bilateral priorities. With meetings spanning four continents in a single day, India is projecting itself as a proactive connector across the Global South. The BRICS FMM, hosted under India's chairship, is expected to set the agenda for the leaders' summit later in the year.
Point of View
Particularly with Global South partners who rarely get dedicated ministerial bandwidth. The Cuba MoU is the most concrete outcome: formalising consultation mechanisms is often the precursor to substantive cooperation in health and pharma, sectors where India has exportable capacity. The Uganda conversation on food and health security also points to a pattern — India is quietly building an Africa engagement architecture that goes beyond trade, leveraging diaspora networks as a diplomatic asset. Whether these sideline meetings translate into deliverables, or remain aspirational, will be the real measure of India's BRICS chairship.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Jaishankar's bilateral meetings on 15 May take place?
The meetings took place in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting hosted under India's 2026 BRICS chairship. Jaishankar met counterparts from Malaysia, Uganda, Cuba, and Iran in the course of a single day.
What was agreed between India and Cuba during the talks?
India and Cuba exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for regular diplomatic consultations between their foreign ministries. The talks also covered cooperation in health, development partnership, and capacity building.
What did India and Malaysia discuss at the BRICS FMM sidelines?
EAM Jaishankar and Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan reviewed progress on the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed follow-up action on outcomes from PM Narendra Modi's visit to Malaysia earlier in 2026.
What was discussed in India's talks with Uganda?
Jaishankar and Ugandan Foreign Minister Odongo Jeje Abubakhar discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in food security, health security, technology sharing, and strengthening business linkages through the Indian community.
Why is the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting significant in 2026?
India holds the BRICS chairship in 2026 and is hosting the Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi as a precursor to the leaders' summit. The event has become a platform for India to advance bilateral agendas with a wide range of partner nations simultaneously.
