Russian President Vladimir Putin begins a two-day official visit to India today, featuring a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
Here are the key details of this significant diplomatic engagement:
- President Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi this evening. Shortly after his arrival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host him for a private dinner, reciprocating the similar gesture extended by President Putin during PM Modi’s visit to Moscow in July 2024. The dinner is expected to be informal, allowing both leaders an opportunity to set the tone ahead of the formal summit.
- On Friday morning, President Putin will receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Following the welcome, he will visit Rajghat to pay tribute at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, a protocol that has become customary for visiting heads of state and government.
- The centrepiece of the visit will be the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, which will take place at Hyderabad House in the national capital. As part of the summit programme, Prime Minister Modi will also host a working lunch for President Putin and the accompanying Russian delegation.
- India is expected to strongly press for the expedited delivery of pending military hardware from Russia, particularly in light of delays experienced in certain platforms since the start of the war in Ukraine.
- A major focus will be on the remaining units of the S-400 Triumf air defence system. India had signed a USD 5 billion contract in 2018 for five squadrons of the advanced system. Three squadrons have already been delivered, while the remaining two are expected by mid-next year. The deployed systems were used effectively by India during Operation Sindoor.
- According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, discussions may also cover India’s interest in the Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. India is currently in the process of evaluating next-generation fighter platforms, with other contenders including the Rafale, F-21, F/A-18, and Eurofighter Typhoon.
- Energy security will be a prominent agenda item, with the impact of U.S. sanctions on India’s imports of discounted Russian crude oil likely to be a central topic. Peskov noted that India’s purchases of Russian oil may decline “for a brief period,” but Russia is actively working to maintain stable supplies.
- In addition to the summit between PM Modi and President Putin, the defence ministers of the two countries—India’s Rajnath Singh and Russia’s Andrey Belousov—are expected to hold separate talks focused on critical military hardware and cooperation.
- The visit takes place against the backdrop of recent strains in India-U.S. relations. Washington has recently imposed 50 per cent tariffs on a range of Indian goods and an additional 25 per cent levy specifically linked to India’s continued procurement of Russian crude oil.
- President Putin is also expected to brief Prime Minister Modi on the latest U.S. diplomatic initiatives concerning the conflict in Ukraine. India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward, refraining from criticising Moscow while positioning itself as a potential mediator in the crisis.
The visit underscores the enduring strategic partnership between India and Russia, even as New Delhi navigates complex geopolitical challenges and balancing acts with Western partners.
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