President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in New Delhi on Thursday sent a strong geopolitical message. As his aircraft rolled across the tarmac at Palam Airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood waiting on the red carpet to welcome him personally.
The gesture broke protocol and highlighted the unusually warm relationship between the two leaders.
State broadcaster RT noted that PM Modi greeted ‘his friend’ at the aircraft door. The two leaders embraced and left the airport together in the same vehicle.
The moment set the tone for this year’s 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
President Putin will also launch RT India on Friday. The Moscow-based network will begin four daily English news programmes. The initiative aims to strengthen traditional ties and expand both countries’ influence in a multipolar world.
The Kremlin stated that Russia and India maintain deep cooperation in ‘the most sensitive areas.’
The agenda of the visit reflects this. The leaders will discuss defence collaboration, space cooperation, and possible joint production of the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet.
The India-Russia Business Forum is meeting in parallel, drawing companies from both countries.
Officials often point out that Russia offers hands-on support to India. Western suppliers may be highly professional, but Russian partners often directly guide Indian teams in operations and maintenance. This attitude has shaped bilateral trust over the decades.
India and Russia have stood by each other during critical moments. In the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the Soviet Union deployed its Black Sea Fleet to counter the US Seventh Fleet’s pressure on India.
In multilateral platforms, too, India has navigated sensitive issues.
At the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, India pushed to replace references to ‘Russian aggression’ in Ukraine with the neutral phrase ‘war in Ukraine’, shifting the tone from blame to conflict.
Military cooperation remains robust. During Operation Sindoor, Russia’s S-400 system helped India counter Pakistani aerial threats.
India is now studying the advanced S-500 Prometheus system to strengthen its air defence network.
India and Russia also work together in global groupings like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Both blocs seek a fairer global order and stronger cooperation among developing nations.
President Putin’s visit comes as Russia faces Western sanctions and India deals with tariff pressure and global energy instability.
Against this backdrop, the meeting acts as both a diplomatic reaffirmation and a clear geopolitical signal: the India-Russia partnership remains resilient, relevant, and strategically aligned in a changing world.
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