India is looking to strengthen its strategic and economic partnerships with Ethiopia and Malaysia, with defence cooperation, investment and emerging technologies emerging as key areas of discussion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meetings with the two countries’ leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
During his meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, both sides discussed expanding economic engagement and defence cooperation. Ethiopia expressed interest in deeper defence ties with India, including joint training of personnel and procurement of defence equipment from Indian companies, government sources said.
The two countries also discussed investment opportunities, with Ethiopia particularly keen on greater participation by Indian mining companies. The move could open fresh opportunities for Indian businesses in Ethiopia’s natural-resource sector and strengthen India’s broader economic engagement with Africa.
Defence cooperation is becoming an increasingly important part of India’s engagement with countries across the Global South. Several nations have shown interest in Indian-made military platforms, missiles, artillery systems, radars and aircraft.
Malaysia also expressed interest in expanding defence cooperation with India during Modi’s meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Discussions covered defence, investment and the semiconductor sector.
One of the major areas of potential defence cooperation is the BrahMos missile system. Malaysia has previously shown interest in the system, including the possibility of an air-launched version for its Su-30 fighter aircraft. Closer cooperation in this area could further strengthen India-Malaysia defence ties.
The semiconductor sector was another important part of the Modi-Anwar discussions. India and Malaysia are exploring cooperation across the semiconductor value chain, including technology, workforce development and supply-chain resilience.
Both countries also discussed ways to encourage greater investment by their respective industries. India is seeking increased participation by Malaysian companies while encouraging Indian businesses to expand their presence in Malaysia.
India’s growing defence partnerships with countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Armenia have also highlighted the country’s expanding role as a defence supplier. The Philippines has already procured BrahMos systems, while Indonesia finalised a BrahMos arrangement in 2026.
The latest discussions with Ethiopia and Malaysia come as New Delhi seeks to position India as a reliable defence and technology partner for developing and middle-income countries.
The BRICS Summit has provided an important platform for India to hold multiple bilateral discussions alongside the main leaders’ meeting, with defence, trade, investment and emerging technologies featuring prominently in its wider diplomatic outreach.
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