Malaysia-Russia ties in focus as PM Anwar, Putin meet at Brics summit

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th Brics Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12, 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 12 Sep 2026 9:21 AM MYT

NEW DELHI, Sept 12 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit here, providing an opportunity for both leaders to strengthen Putrajaya and Moscow’s relations and exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

It marked Anwar’s first bilateral meeting upon his arrival here to participate in the summit in Malaysia’s capacity as a BRICS partner country since January 1, 2025.

The meeting underscored the importance of maintaining high-level engagement between the two countries, particularly as Malaysia seeks to deepen economic and strategic ties with major emerging economies.

Malaysia and Russia have maintained longstanding diplomatic relations since 1967, with cooperation spanning trade and investment, energy, education, tourism, defence and other areas.

Both countries have also expressed interest in expanding bilateral economic engagement and exploring new areas of collaboration.

The meeting also came as Malaysia continues to advocate for a more inclusive and balanced international order while strengthening its engagement with the Global South through platforms such as BRICS and other multilateral mechanisms.

Anwar’s bilateral meeting with Putin further reinforced the commitment of both countries to constructive dialogue, closer cooperation and stronger people-to-people ties, while contributing to Malaysia’s broader foreign policy and economic objectives.

In 2024, total Asean-Russia trade amounted to US$18.1 billion, while Russian foreign direct investment in Asean totalled RM367.90 million (US$92.97 million).

For Malaysia, Russia was the country’s ninth-largest trading partner among European nations in 2025, with total trade was valued at RM8.72 billion (US$2.04 billion).

Malaysia’s primary exports to Russia included electrical and electronic products, machinery, equipment and parts, and processed food, while principal imports consisted of petroleum products, minerals, chemicals and chemical-based products. — Bernama