Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi on Thursday evening, marking his first official trip to India in four years. The high-profile visit, set against the backdrop of a shifting global landscape and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is poised to place enhanced economic and strategic cooperation at the heart of discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Private Dinner Diplomacy Sets the Tone
The Russian leader's itinerary commenced with an exclusive private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi shortly after his arrival. This intimate setting allowed the two leaders to initiate a comprehensive review of the special and privileged strategic partnership shared by their nations. The talks are expected to span crucial areas including long-standing defence collaboration, energy security, expansion of bilateral trade, and partnerships in emerging sectors. A significant exchange of views on pivotal global and regional developments, particularly in Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific, is also on the agenda.
Rajghat Tribute, Summit Talks, and Business Outreach
President Putin's key formal engagements are scheduled for Friday. The day will begin with a solemn visit to Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi, a ritual for visiting dignitaries. Following a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the core of the visit will unfold at Hyderabad House for the summit-level talks.
Prime Minister Modi and President Putin will engage in wide-ranging discussions aimed at strengthening economic integration, enhancing trade routes, and advancing cooperation in technology, space, logistics, and innovation. After a working lunch, President Putin will take his economic message to the India-Russia Business Forum, an event designed to galvanise private-sector partnerships and attract fresh investments. The day will conclude with a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with Putin's departure slated for around 9:30 PM.
Big-Ticket Agreements and Trade in the Spotlight
Ahead of the visit, a senior aide to President Putin confirmed plans for a joint statement and the signing of several bilateral documents. A centrepiece is expected to be the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of Russian-Indian Economic Cooperation until 2030. This document is envisioned as a strategic roadmap to boost long-term trade and industrial collaboration.
The focus on trade is paramount. Bilateral trade reached a significant $63.6 billion in 2024, reflecting a 12% increase, primarily fuelled by energy, fertilisers, and machinery exports. The discussions will delve into this dynamic and explore large-scale promising projects in industrial cooperation, innovative technologies, peaceful space exploration, transport, mining, healthcare, and labour migration.
In a move highlighting soft-power outreach, President Putin will also participate in the launch event for RT TV's India operations. The visit underscores the resilience of the India-Russia relationship, which continues to evolve by balancing traditional defence ties with new-age cooperation in technology, energy transition, and education, even amidst global geopolitical upheavals. This is the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since their interaction on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, having maintained contact through five phone conversations in 2024.
