New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in India on 4-5 December on a State visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday.
The visit is taking place at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will be centred on the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, the highest institutional dialogue mechanism between the two nations.
According to the MEA, President Putin and PM Modi will hold extensive bilateral talks in New Delhi to assess the current status of cooperation and chart the next phase of engagement under the India-Russia ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.
“The forthcoming State visit will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” it said.
President Putin’s visit assumes heightened significance as it comes at a time when India-US trade tensions have escalated, with Washington doubling tariffs on select Indian imports to 50%, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
During the visit, President Droupadi Murmu will formally receive the Russian leader and host a banquet in his honour.
India and Russia have enjoyed a long-standing and resilient bilateral relationship spanning several decades. Their diplomatic ties, rooted in early post-independence cooperation, have evolved significantly over time. A major milestone in the partnership came in 2000, when the two countries signed the Strategic Partnership Declaration, elevating the relationship well beyond symbolic ties. A decade later, in 2010, the partnership was further upgraded to the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, reflecting an exceptionally high level of trust and strategic alignment.
The Annual Summit mechanism, inaugurated in 2000, has been a key driver of momentum in the relationship, producing landmark decisions across defence, nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, scientific collaboration and cultural exchanges. Despite shifts in the global geopolitical landscape, New Delhi and Moscow have consistently emphasized the long-term value of their engagement.