Putin Arrives in Delhi: Strategic Summit Set to Fortify India-Russia Partnership

New Delhi : Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi late Thursday evening for a crucial two-day state visit, aiming to deepen the nearly eight-decade-old India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership amid a complex global geopolitical landscape.

The high-stakes visit began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosting a private dinner for President Putin, an engagement designed to establish a warm and cooperative tone ahead of the formal 23rd India-Russia summit talks scheduled for Friday.

The summit meeting between the two leaders is expected to be closely scrutinised by Western capitals, particularly given the current global tensions and the recent downturn in India-US relations. Sources suggest the primary agenda for the discussions will revolve around three key areas: further boosting existing defence cooperation, finding mechanisms to insulate India-Russia trade from external pressures, and exploring new avenues for collaboration, notably in the field of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for clean energy.

The approximately 27-hour visit underscores the enduring strength of the bilateral relationship. Following the summit, the two sides are anticipated to sign several important agreements, particularly aimed at enhancing bilateral trade volumes.

The itinerary for Friday is packed with formal engagements. President Putin will be accorded a full ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning. He is also scheduled to pay homage at Rajghat. The main summit talks will then take place at Hyderabad House, where Prime Minister Modi will also host a working lunch for the Russian leader and his delegation.

Post-summit, President Putin will officially launch the new India channel of the Russian state-run broadcaster. The visit will conclude with a state banquet hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu. The Russian President is scheduled to depart from India on Friday evening around 9 pm. The visit is expected to result in concrete outcomes that bolster the strategic autonomy and economic ties between the two global partners. (PTI)