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NEW DELHI — Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu on June 23, 2026, on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS National Security Advisers' Meeting in New Delhi, according to Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal. The two officials discussed Russian initiatives and cooperation within the BRICS framework, as well as progress on bilateral cooperation between India and Russia.

Coverage Comparison

Both reports from TASS — English focus on Sergey Shoigu's activities during his visit to India for the BRICS meeting. One report highlights the structured meeting with Ajit Doval, citing Randhir Jaiswal's statement on X. The other provides Shoigu's own account of his meetings, including with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian representatives, as he summed up his visit. Both reports are neutral in tone and rely on official statements and direct quotes.

Key Claims

  • Meeting between Doval and Shoigu: Indian NSA Ajit Doval met with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu on June 23, 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs Meeting. They discussed ongoing cooperation under BRICS, including proposals put forward by Russia, and reviewed progress on bilateral cooperation, as reported by TASS — English citing Randhir Jaiswal.
  • BRICS NSAs Meeting location: The meeting took place in New Delhi, according to TASS — English. Shoigu participated in a meeting of high-level BRICS security representatives, where they discussed international and regional security, counterterrorism, cyber threats, and non-traditional security challenges.
  • Shoigu's discussions with Iranian representatives: Shoigu told journalists that he had met with Iranian representatives on the sidelines and exchanged "latest news, now from Geneva," as reported by TASS — English. This comes after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding envisaging an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, according to the same report.
  • Meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister: Shoigu mentioned holding talks with "my colleague and Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi," as quoted by TASS — English, without providing further details on the content of that discussion.

Perspectives

  • Indian government perspective: Randhir Jaiswal, Foreign Ministry Spokesman, framed the meeting as part of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, emphasizing ongoing cooperation under BRICS and bilateral progress.
  • Russian official perspective: Sergey Shoigu described his discussions as "fairly active" and varying by region, noting that talks with the UAE representative focused on regional security and bilateral cooperation. He also highlighted the exchange of news from Geneva with Iranian representatives.