Modi, Guterres discuss West Asia, Ukraine impact ahead of BRICS summit
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, with the discussions focusing on their wider impact on the global economy, including access to food and fertiliser. During the meeting, the UN chief also reaffirmed the principle of freedom of navigation.
Guterres met Modi in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS summit, which India is hosting on September 12 and 13. According to a statement by the office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, the two leaders also exchanged views on the growing danger of lethal autonomous weapons and discussed the priorities of India’s BRICS presidency.
The spokesperson’s office said the two leaders “had a wide-ranging discussion on the current conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the impact both are having on the global economy, including regarding access to food and fertiliser.” It added that the secretary-general “reaffirmed the principle of freedom of navigation.”
Guterres also expressed appreciation for India’s close cooperation with the United Nations. The statement said Modi and Guterres discussed the priorities of India’s presidency of BRICS, including the need for multilateral institutions that clearly reflect the realities of the world in the 21st century.
The UN chief has been invited to speak at the summit’s Open Session on ‘Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth’ on September 13. India, a founding member of BRICS, is Chair for 2026 and is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit, which will bring together leaders of member states and partner countries as well as outreach invitees. Guterres, whose second five-year term as head of the United Nations ends in December 2026, had travelled to India in February to attend the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
The meeting between Modi and Guterres covered the conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, their economic fallout, freedom of navigation, lethal autonomous weapons and India’s BRICS priorities, while also underlining India’s engagement with the United Nations.
