National Security Advisor(NSA) Ajit Doval confirmed that the Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India later this year. NSA Doval is currently in Moscow for a bilateral meeting and while speaking with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergie Shoigu, Doval reiterated that New Delhi is ‘excited and delighted’ about the visit of Putin to India.
The dates of the visit haven’t been finalised, however the bilateral visit will probably be scheduled for later this year, sources said. NSA Ajit Doval also described the previous India-Russia summits as the “watershed moments” in bilateral relations and emphasized similar confidence regarding the outcome of the upcoming summit.
Modi-Putin Meets at a Crucial Geopolitical Juncture
The India-Russia summit is being scheduled at a crucial geopolitical juncture when the world order is entangled amidst Trump’s tariff wars and the resultant economic volatility. US President has particularly targeted India for importing Russian oil, despite New Delhi repeatedly reiterating that India’s oil purchases are based on the market trends and securing the energy security and national interests of India. In the latest row, Trump has imposed additional 25 per cent tariff on India for purchasing oil from Russia that escalates the total tariffs imposed by the US on India to 50 per cent.
The announcement regarding the potential visit of Putin to India comes at this critical geopolitical juncture, is also a testimony for the time-tested bilateral bonhomie between New Delhi and Moscow that are based on the principles of shared geopolitical and geoeconomic interests. However, world has to await and see on how the US reacts over Putin’s visit to India.
PM Modi and President Putin met twice in the previous year, once during PM Modi’s visit to Moscow for 22nd India-Russia Summit and later in October to the BRICS Summit held in Kazan. President Putin’s visit to India will be his maiden visit to the country since the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Putin had earlier visited India in December 2021, just few months before the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine war.
Tracing the Diplomatic Relations between New Delhi and Moscow
New Delhi established diplomatic relations with Moscow in 1947, soon after the independence. Since then the bilateral relations have been on a positive trajectory amidst all the domestic political upheavals and changing geopolitical landscape. The India-Russia annual summit commenced in the year 2000, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. In 2000, India and Russia also signed, ‘Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership’. In 2021, India’s first 2+2 dialogue was held with Russia where the Foreign and Defence Ministers of both the countries held meetings.
As of 2024-25, India-Russia trade relations stand at USD 68.7 billion. India’s key exports to Russia comprise agri-products, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, chemical products etc. India’s imports from Russia include oil & petroleum products, fertilizers, precious metals and stones etc. Russia today, accounts for nearly 40% of India’s oil imports.
In an era of geopolitical unpredictability and global political distortions, New Delhi-Moscow relations mirror the importance of time-tested relations that are extremely crucial to navigate the global challenges.
