The aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin captured the world's attention today, becoming the most tracked flight on the planet as it made its way to India for a crucial bilateral summit.
Global Spotlight on Presidential Arrival
According to data from the prominent flight tracking service Flight Radar 24, the Russian government aircraft transporting President Putin to New Delhi topped the global tracking charts. The service highlighted this unusual public interest in a post on social media platform X, noting the aircraft's journey coincided with the scheduled two-day meeting between President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
President Putin landed in the Indian capital this evening, where he was personally received at the airport by Prime Minister Modi. This gesture underscores the importance New Delhi places on the visit. The two leaders are set to engage in comprehensive discussions covering a wide spectrum of bilateral issues, with key focus areas expected to be defence cooperation and trade relations.
The 'Flying Kremlin': A Symbol of Russian Power
As one of the globe's most heavily guarded heads of state, President Putin's international travel is always accompanied by significant symbols of Russian authority. His travel entourage routinely includes his specialised Aurus Senat armoured limousine and his highly modified presidential aircraft.
This aircraft, an Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, is often referred to as the "Flying Kremlin." It is a customised, fortified version of the IL-96-300, a long-range, four-engine airliner originally developed in the 1980s by the Soviet Ilyushin Design Bureau. The prototype of this aircraft first took to the skies on September 28, 1988, and it entered into operational service in the early part of the following decade.
Agenda for Strategic Dialogue
The summit between the Indian Prime Minister and the Russian President is poised to address several critical areas of mutual interest. Defence and trade are slated to be at the forefront of the conversations, reflecting the long-standing and strategic partnership between the two nations. The outcomes of these talks are being closely watched by global observers, given the current geopolitical climate and India's nuanced position on the world stage.
The extraordinary level of public tracking of the Russian leader's flight highlights the intense international interest surrounding this diplomatic engagement. It marks a significant moment in India's foreign policy calendar, as it hosts a leader central to one of the most consequential geopolitical relationships of the 21st century.
