Deals, Diplomacy and A High-Stakes Visit: What’s on Putin’s 30-Hour India Agenda?

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to visit India on 4-5 December. Considering the current global environment, this tour is considered very important. This will be his first visit to India after the start of the Ukraine war, so the eyes of international diplomacy are currently focused on Delhi.

The 23rd annual summit meeting of India and Russia will also take place during this tour. Even though this meeting is a part of the regular diplomatic process of both countries, today's tense geopolitical circumstances have given it a different importance.

What is the importance of this tour?

According to the information, on the evening of December 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a private dinner in Putin's honor. The next day, President Draupadi Murmu will host a state banquet. These events clearly show that India wants to send a strong message about its long-standing partnership with Russia and not just as a formality. Delhi wants to show that the relations between the two countries are still based on trust and there is a desire on both sides to take them forward according to the needs of the new era.

Defense, energy, and logistics—which files will move forward?

The biggest focus of Putin's visit is to deepen the defense sector. Russia's parliament recently approved a military logistics agreement called RELOS. With this, Indian and Russian armies will be able to use each other's airbases and ports. This partnership will further strengthen the strategic presence of both countries from the Indian Ocean to the Arctic.

New announcements are also expected regarding energy security, nuclear projects, expansion in trade, and space cooperation. Russia is looking for new allies amid Western sanctions, while reliable energy supplies and defense equipment remain vital for India.

Delhi's preparations and diplomatic signals

Preparations for the tour are going on at full speed. But the focus is even more on what comes out in the conversation. India has long been following a balanced policy between the West and Russia. In such a situation, this journey is like another test for India's strategic autonomy.

Why does this visit matter so much?

• Opportunity to revive India-Russia relations in a new context
• Despite increasing western pressure, India's role and influence are continuously increasing.
• Russia wants India to step up in defense, energy and trade.
• India wants its position to remain intact amidst the increasing proximity of Russia and China.

This visit to India is not just a formality amid the changed global equations after the Ukraine war. This is the period when both the countries are reshaping their old partnership according to new needs and new challenges.