Putin set to visit India on December 4 - 5

Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to India from December 4-5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his first bilateral visit since the Russia-Ukraine war. The visit comes as the India-Russia “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” continues to remain strong despite global geopolitical turbulence.

“India will view this visit not just as a diplomatic engagement but as an affirmation of the deep friendship between the two nations,” said the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday. The statement highlighted that the relationship enjoys widespread appreciation among the people of both countries, reflecting strong people-to-people ties. Indians have long held respect for Russians, while Russians similarly admire India. Historically, Russia has stood alongside India during wars and crises, and India has reciprocated, reinforcing mutual trust and solidarity.

Over the years, several state visits have taken place between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia. Vladimir Putin has previously visited India in December 2000, December 2012, October 2018, and December 2021, participating in annual India-Russia summits and signing multiple agreements across defence, trade, energy, and technology. On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Russia for summits in September 2015, May 2016, June 2017, and September 2019, as well as in July 2024 for the 22nd Annual Summit. These visits reflect a consistent tradition of high-level engagements and the credibility of India-Russia bilateral relations, focusing on strategic partnership, defence cooperation, energy, trade, and people-to-people ties.

India and Russia (and earlier, the Soviet Union) have maintained a long history of high-level exchanges. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, visited the Soviet Union in 1955, meeting Premier Bulganin and Party leader Nikita Khrushchev, laying the foundation for industrial, defence, and cultural cooperation. Soviet leaders, including Bulganin and Khrushchev, reciprocated with visits to India the same year, strengthening people-to-people ties and mutual trust. During the Cold War, other Indian Prime Ministers, such as Indira Gandhi, visited the USSR multiple times, including in 1966, 1976, and 1983, while Soviet leaders like Leonid Brezhnev visited India in 1973. Rajiv Gandhi also visited the Soviet Union in 1985, and his successors, including P. V. Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, made official visits to Russia in the 1990s. On the Russian side, Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Dmitry Medvedev visited India several times, reinforcing cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, trade, and technology. These visits underscore that the India–Russia relationship has been nurtured over decades through regular high-level engagements, strategic dialogue, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, forming a strong foundation that continues to guide contemporary partnerships between Prime Ministers of India and Presidents of Russia.

During the upcoming summit, the leaders are expected to review the entire spectrum of cooperation, including defence, energy, nuclear power, space, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties. Defence cooperation will be a major focus, with India planning to acquire Russia’s advanced S-400 air defence systems and Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets. Other discussions will cover energy, economic collaboration, nuclear and space cooperation, and expanding trade and investment in sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and technology. They will also exchange views on major regional and global developments, including the Ukraine conflict and multilateral forums such as BRICS, SCO, and G20. A traditional presidential banquet will be hosted in Putin’s honour, and several agreements are expected to be signed to reinforce both cooperation and friendship. The overarching theme of the visit is to update and expand the bilateral relationship while highlighting India’s desire to remain a trusted and reliable friend of Russia, reflecting both government-level and people-level bonds.

Preparations for the summit are already underway. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met President Putin in Moscow last week and conveyed Prime Minister Modi’s greetings while discussing regional and global issues. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the visit as meaningful and significant. The Russian Embassy in India confirmed ongoing preparations, including maritime cooperation discussions. The visit underscores India’s long-standing policy of strategic autonomy while maintaining strong ties with Moscow. Russia continues to be India’s largest defence supplier and a key source of discounted crude oil and fertilisers. Despite global shifts, the enduring India-Russia relationship reflects a shared commitment to preserve stability, protect national interests, and deepen cooperation across political, economic, security, technological, and friendship domains, celebrated not only by diplomats but also by the people of both nations.