Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings with visiting heads of government on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, including talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. The Modi-BRICS bilaterals covered trade, defence cooperation, semiconductors and investment, with both Malaysia and Ethiopia separately signalling interest in deeper security ties with India.
The meeting with Anwar Ibrahim reviewed progress across a wide range of areas including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, the digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties. Separately, at Hyderabad House, Modi and Abiy Ahmed Ali discussed joint personnel training and defence procurement from India, with Ethiopia welcoming Indian industry investment and specifically flagging interest from Indian mining companies.
What Did Malaysia and India Discuss on Trade and Semiconductors?
The Modi-Anwar Ibrahim talks placed particular emphasis on semiconductor cooperation, an area where Malaysia has built significant manufacturing and packaging capacity and where India has been trying to establish itself as an alternative hub. Trade and investment featured alongside discussions on infrastructure and the digital economy, reflecting the broadening scope of India-Malaysia engagement beyond traditional areas such as palm oil trade and labour mobility.
Why Are Ethiopia and Malaysia Seeking Stronger Defence Ties With India?
According to sources familiar with the discussions, both Malaysia and Ethiopia expressed interest in expanding defence cooperation with India during their respective bilateral meetings. For Ethiopia, this extended to joint personnel training arrangements and interest in defence procurement from Indian manufacturers, part of a broader trend of African nations diversifying their defence sourcing. Ethiopia’s welcome of Indian mining investment also points to New Delhi’s efforts to expand its economic footprint in East Africa’s resource sector.
What Do Foreign Policy Analysts Say About These Bilaterals?
Analysts tracking India’s BRICS chairship note that the flurry of bilateral meetings, which also included talks with leaders from the UAE and Vietnam on the same day, reflects New Delhi’s use of the summit as a platform to advance a wide range of bilateral relationships simultaneously. The semiconductor and defence procurement conversations in particular are seen as consistent with India’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a manufacturing and security partner for middle powers looking to diversify away from traditional suppliers.
Market and Trade Reaction
Indian defence manufacturing and semiconductor-linked companies are likely to watch these bilateral outcomes for potential order pipelines, though no specific contracts or investment figures were announced following the meetings. Mining and resources sector observers noted Ethiopia’s specific mention of welcoming Indian mining companies as a signal that could translate into concrete investment proposals in the coming months.
What Happens Next?
Follow-up technical and ministerial-level discussions typically follow such summit-sidelines bilaterals, with defence and trade ministries on both sides expected to work out specifics of any procurement or investment interest expressed during the Modi-Anwar Ibrahim and Modi-Abiy Ahmed Ali meetings. The broader BRICS Summit concludes on September 13 with a New Delhi Declaration expected to outline collective commitments among member and partner nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which leaders did Modi meet at the BRICS Summit sidelines?
PM Modi held bilateral meetings with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali, and separately with leaders from the UAE and Vietnam, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, 2026.
What did Modi and Ethiopia’s PM discuss?
Modi and Abiy Ahmed Ali discussed joint personnel training, defence procurement from India, and Indian industry investment, with Ethiopia specifically welcoming Indian mining companies.
What areas did the Modi-Malaysia bilateral cover?
The meeting with Anwar Ibrahim covered trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, the digital economy, energy, fintech, education and tourism.
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