Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded a significant state visit to India on December 5, marking a pivotal moment in the long-standing bilateral relationship. The visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, centered around the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The leaders used the occasion, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed during Putin's first state visit in October 2000, to reaffirm and fortify their "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership." A joint statement highlighted the relationship's unique nature, built on mutual trust, respect for core interests, and strategic alignment.
Economic Ambitions and Trade Corridors
A central focus of the discussions was elevating economic cooperation. Both nations set an ambitious revised target of achieving $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. To reach this goal, they identified critical action areas including removing trade barriers, improving logistics and connectivity, and establishing smooth payment mechanisms.
The summit saw the adoption of the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India-Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030. Progress was also noted on the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between India and the Eurasian Economic Union. Furthermore, agreements were signed to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers between the two countries.
In the realm of connectivity, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on developing stable transport corridors. Key projects highlighted include the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor, and the Northern Sea Route.
Strengthening Defence, Energy, and Technology Ties
The partnership's traditional pillar of military and military-technical cooperation received a forward-looking boost. The leaders agreed to encourage joint manufacturing under the Make-in-India program. This involves producing spare parts and components for Russian-origin defence equipment through technology transfer and joint ventures, aiming to support the Indian Armed Forces and explore export opportunities.
Energy security emerged as another significant theme, described as a cornerstone of the strategic partnership. The discussions covered wide-ranging cooperation in the sector, with a mutual agreement to resolve ongoing issues faced by investors in joint energy projects to ensure their timely implementation.
Cooperation in advanced fields was also emphasized. The two sides confirmed their intention to broaden collaboration in civil nuclear energy, including the life cycle support for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP). They also agreed to forge new partnerships in high-technology areas.
Cultural Bonds and Shared Security Concerns
Beyond strategic and economic talks, the summit addressed people-to-people links. Both leaders welcomed the steady increase in tourist exchanges and the simplification of visa formalities, including the introduction of e-visas. They agreed to continue working on further easing the visa regime in the future.
On security, India and Russia reaffirmed a shared commitment to combat common threats. The joint statement specifically mentioned strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation against terrorism, extremism, transnational organized crime, and illicit drug trafficking.
The 23rd Annual Summit successfully charted a comprehensive roadmap for the India-Russia relationship, aiming to unlock its full potential across all domains of cooperation in the coming decade.
