President Putin's Strategic 27-Hour Visit to India: Strengthening Historic Bilateral Relations Amid Global Tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a brief yet significant 27-hour visit, highlighting one of India's most enduring strategic partnerships.

Here are 10 key points about this important diplomatic event:

President Putin landed in Delhi around 6:35 pm on Thursday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed him with a warm embrace before they departed together in the Prime Minister's vehicle. PM Modi hosted a private dinner at his official residence, reciprocating the hospitality Putin extended during the PM's Moscow visit in July last year. Their dinner meeting lasted approximately three hours, concluding after 10 pm.

Prime Minister Modi shared images on X platform, first showing the leaders at the airport and in the car, and later at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. "Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people," PM Modi wrote initially. Later at 11:30 pm, he posted a photo presenting Putin with a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita, noting, "The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world."

The formal summit will take place on Friday, beginning with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by discussions and a working lunch at Hyderabad House, India's traditional venue for high-level bilateral engagements. President Putin's schedule includes paying respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in the morning.

Later, the Russian President will inaugurate a new India-based channel of Russia's state broadcaster, before attending a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. His departure from India is scheduled for around 9 pm on Friday.

Government sources indicate that President Putin is accompanied by a substantial delegation of business representatives, as India seeks to improve its trade balance with one of its oldest strategic partners.

Officials from both countries have stated that the summit will concentrate on three critical areas: defence cooperation, energy partnerships, and trade development. Government sources anticipate multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding in shipping, healthcare, fertilizers, and connectivity sectors.

Prior to the summit on Thursday, defence ministers from both nations held comprehensive discussions, including India's plans to acquire additional S-400 air defence systems and addressing delayed deliveries of military hardware affected by the Ukraine conflict. The S-400 system, which India began receiving under a $5 billion agreement signed in 2018, played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has indicated that Russia may propose supplying Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, positioning Moscow as a direct competitor against Western options like the Rafale, F-21, F/A-18, and Eurofighter Typhoon.

India remains one of the largest purchasers of discounted Russian crude oil, though recent US sanctions on two major Russian oil producers have caused a noticeable reduction in India's imports.

President Putin's visit occurs at a time when India-US relations are experiencing what Indian officials privately describe as "the most strained period in two decades." Washington recently imposed a 50 percent tariff on various Indian goods and an additional 25 percent levy directly connected to India's purchases of Russian oil.