NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi met his Malaysian and Ethiopian counterparts, Anwar Ibrahim and Abiy Ahmad Ali, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on Saturday. Government sources said that meetings resulted in taking India’s relations with both countries on a new trajectory, as Malaysia and Ethiopia expressed their keenness for stronger defence cooperation with India.Joint personnel training as well as defence procurement from India was discussed, according to Indian officials. “Both countries welcomed Indian industry and Investment. Ethiopia welcomed Indian mining companies. Opportunities in the semiconductor industry were discussed with Malaysia,” said a source.According to an official readout, Modi and Ibrahim took stock of the outcomes of Modi’s visit to Malaysia in February 2026 and reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties. Ibrahim conveyed Malaysia’s concurrence to the establishment of Consulate General of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.“Prime Minister Modi appreciated Malaysia’s continued support in strengthening ASEAN-India relations. The leaders exchanged views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest. They expressed their continued commitment to advancing the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” said the Indian readout.
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In the meeting with the Ethiopian PM, the leaders discussed further strengthening the bilateral Strategic Partnership. They reviewed progress across key sectors, including economic cooperation, defence and security partnership, and capacity building. The meeting built on Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to Addis Ababa in December 2025, said an Indian readout.The two leaders also exchanged perspectives on regional and international developments of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation in multilateral fora, according to Indian officials.“Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for Ethiopia’s participation in the 18th BRICS Summit and noted that its presence helped in reinforcing the collective voice of the Global South,” said the readout.
