Om Birla Holds Talks with Cuban and Russian Parliament Leaders Ahead of BRICS Forum and UN Vote

Om Birla, the Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha, met senior parliamentarians from Cuba and Russia in New Delhi as both nations prepared for the upcoming BRICS Parliamentary Forum and a United Nations General Assembly vote on a Cuban anti‑blockade resolution. On 25 October 2026, Birla sat down with Ana Maria Mari Machado, Cuba’s Vice‑President of the National Assembly and Council of State, to discuss deeper parliamentary collaboration, joint capacity‑building programmes and cooperation in health and drug sectors. Machado’s visit came as Cuba stepped up its diplomatic outreach to secure backing for a resolution it will table on 27 October 2026, urging the UN to condemn the U.S. naval restrictions that the island claims have triggered a severe energy shortage. Two days earlier, Cuba’s ambassador to India, Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, had warned that the United States was imposing a blockade reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine and pledged that Cuba could defend its interests. The following day, 24 October, Birla also met Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of Russia’s State Duma, to review the 80‑year partnership between India and Russia and to examine recent parliamentary exchanges. Birla highlighted India’s new Sansad Bhashini platform, which translates parliamentary proceedings into multiple Indian languages, stressing that technology can make law‑making more accessible and people‑focused. Cuba participates in the BRICS Parliamentary Forum as a partner country, adding another layer to the diplomatic talks.

Context

The BRICS Parliamentary Forum brings together lawmakers from the five member nations and partner states to discuss shared challenges. Cuba’s push at the UN reflects a broader effort by smaller nations to rally Global South support against sanctions they view as punitive.