India and Russia are celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership. The visit will host the 23rd Annual Bilateral Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin. The trip is expected to push cooperation in trade, health, agriculture, media and cultural sectors. Putin lands this evening and will attend a private dinner hosted by PM Modi. This is his first India visit since February 2022 when the Ukraine conflict began. Both governments see the moment as a chance to reset ties amid changing global politics. New momentum is expected in long-term partnership programs.
Ceremonial Welcome And High-Level Talks
The state program begins tomorrow morning with a ceremonial welcome and Tri-Service Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Putin will then visit Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. After that, official delegation-level talks will take place at Hyderabad House. Major agreements will be signed followed by a joint media statement. Seven Russian cabinet ministers are part of the delegation, covering defence, finance, agriculture, economic development, health, internal security and transportation. Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina is also travelling, underlining the financial importance of the visit.
A Trusted And Confidential Dialogue
Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said political dialogue between the two nations remains “regular and confidential.” PM Modi and Putin met most recently at the SCO Summit in Tianjin and have held multiple phone conversations this year. In Moscow, India’s NSA Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have met President Putin twice. The summit will review progress in security, economy, finance, connectivity, technology, education and culture. The visit also marks 15 years since both countries upgraded ties to a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”
Trade Imbalance And 2030 Roadmap
Economic cooperation will be a major focus area. Bilateral trade has grown 12% in 2024, reaching $63.6 billion. India has raised concerns about trade imbalance due to high Russian exports. Moscow has proposed new payment mechanisms and secure financial channels to reduce external pressures. A long-term program for Russian-Indian economic cooperation until 2030 is expected to be finalized. Energy, agriculture, healthcare and media-sector agreements are also planned. Key industrial and innovation projects were discussed earlier this year at the Intergovernmental Commission in Moscow.
Business Forum And Industrial Growth
On Friday afternoon, Modi and Putin will jointly address the India–Russia Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam. The meet will discuss manufacturing partnerships, investments and high-technology collaboration. Tourism has grown rapidly with 80,000 Russians visiting India and more than 40,000 Indians traveling to Russia this year. Officials believe the partnership holds huge potential for cultural exchange, aviation connectivity and new business corridors. Both sides aim to deepen cooperation in pharmaceuticals, machinery and digital services.
Defence Ties With Flagship Projects
Defence cooperation remains central to the talks. India and Russia will review advanced versions of BrahMos missiles, including the lightweight air-launch BrahMos-NG and extended-range variants. Discussions may also include hypersonic research, long-range air-to-air missiles and additional S-400 systems. BrahMos remains a major success of joint development and has already entered export markets through the Philippines deal. Both leaders will also explore greater defence manufacturing in India to support self-reliance and long-term supply security.
Global Forums And Future Agenda
The two sides will coordinate positions at global forums including the United Nations, SCO, G20 and BRICS. Russia looks forward to India’s BRICS chairmanship in 2026 for stronger cooperation. President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet tomorrow evening in Putin’s honour. The Russian President will depart for Moscow later the same night, completing a visit of nearly 30 hours. The summit aims to send a strong signal about stability and trust in India–Russia relations, even amid dramatic geopolitical shifts worldwide.
