New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to a ceremonial welcome, marking the start of a closely watched two-day state visit aimed at reinforcing India–Russia ties amid shifting global power dynamics and ongoing geopolitical turbulence. His arrival, greeted personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport, underlined the strategic weight attached to this summit by both nations.
Modi’s decision to receive Putin at the airport an honour reserved for select global leaders sent a clear message that New Delhi continues to value its traditionally strong relationship with Moscow. The two leaders exchanged warm greetings before proceeding to the capital, setting the tone for an agenda-packed visit.
Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials and business leaders, reflecting the wide-ranging nature of bilateral discussions planned. A private dinner hosted by Modi was scheduled for Thursday evening, ahead of formal summit talks on Friday.
Economic cooperation is expected to top the agenda. Bilateral trade between India and Russia soared to nearly USD 69 billion in 2024–25 driven primarily by India’s large-scale imports of discounted Russian oil following Western sanctions. However, with crude imports softening in early 2025 and trade becoming increasingly imbalanced, both sides are seeking ways to diversify.
Moscow is pushing for greater import of Indian goods, including automobiles, electronics, textiles, rice, shrimp and tropical fruit, in an attempt to counterbalance its heavy reliance on energy exports. Russian business representatives at a parallel economic forum expressed clear interest in expanding procurements from Indian manufacturers and agricultural producers.
Russia is expected to offer new defense packages, spanning advanced missile systems, air defense platforms and artillery equipment. Despite India’s growing diversification of defense procurement including increased purchases from the US, Israel and France Moscow remains one of New Delhi’s most trusted partners for high-end military hardware.
Putin’s visit comes at a sensitive time, as Washington has intensified its pressure on New Delhi over continued defense and energy cooperation with Russia. India, however, is likely to underline its long-standing policy of strategic autonomy maintaining balanced, issue-based ties with global powers without aligning exclusively with any bloc.
The summit is expected to produce several agreements covering energy, defense, trade, technology, and possibly a joint statement reaffirming the countries' partnership despite shifting global alliances. For Russia, strengthening ties with India is crucial as sanctions continue to squeeze its access to Western markets. For India, Moscow remains a key partner not just economically but also strategically, including in nuclear energy, defense co-development and space collaboration.
As the Modi–Putin dialogue unfolds, analysts suggest that the outcome will shape the future trajectory of the decades-old partnership, determining how resilient it remains against the backdrop of an increasingly polarised world order.
As negotiations continue in New Delhi, both countries appear poised to reaffirm their commitment to a stable, mutually beneficial partnership. In the days ahead, the agreements and joint vision statements that emerge could influence regional security, global energy markets, and the broader strategic landscape across Asia and beyond.
Putin’s visit, closely watched by world capitals, signals that India–Russia relations rooted in history but tested by modern geopolitics remain a central pillar of both nations’ foreign policy calculus.