Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to travel to New Delhi next month to finalize the finer details of the presidential trip. Putin last visited India in 2021, and preparations are now underway for the next summit between the two nations.

Sources indicate that prior to Putin’s arrival, India and Russia are expected to hold a meeting under the framework of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC). This meeting will focus on advancing the various dimensions of bilateral cooperation.

At the annual India-Russia summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin are anticipated to deliberate on further expanding the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” that defines the close ties between the two countries. While official dates for Putin’s visit have not yet been announced, the discussions are likely to emphasize deepening collaboration in key sectors such as defense and security, trade, and energy.

India and Russia have a longstanding mechanism where their leaders meet annually to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations. To date, 22 annual summit meetings have taken place, alternately hosted in India and Russia. The most recent summit was held in Moscow in July last year, when PM Modi visited for the annual meeting.

Russia has been a steadfast and time-tested partner for India, serving as a cornerstone of New Delhi’s foreign policy. Reports suggest that India is considering procuring additional batches of the S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, especially after these weapons played a significant role during Operation Sindoor.

In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia for five units of the S-400 missile system, despite warnings from the US administration at the time about potential sanctions. So far, Russia has supplied three of the five ordered S-400 regiments, with the remaining two expected to be delivered by 2026. However, the delivery schedule has faced delays due to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Just a month ago, PM Modi and President Putin held talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit in Tianjin, China. During this meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic ties. This encounter occurred shortly after the US doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, including a 25% additional duty linked specifically to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.

India has defended its procurement of Russian crude, maintaining that its energy strategy is driven by national interest and prevailing market dynamics.

In his televised opening remarks at the summit meeting, PM Modi welcomed President Putin warmly, saying, “140 crore Indians are eagerly waiting to welcome you in India this December.” He emphasized that this anticipation reflects the depth and scope of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

Modi further noted, “India and Russia have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in the most difficult situations.” He underlined that close cooperation between the two countries remains important not only for their own people but also for fostering global peace, stability, and prosperity.

In their forthcoming summit talks, both leaders are also expected to deliberate on the ongoing Ukraine conflict, reflecting the significance of this issue in their bilateral discussions.

Stay tuned for updates on the official dates and outcomes of the India-Russia annual summit.
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