Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday, July 8, for a two-day visit, signaling a strong commitment to further deepening the strategic partnership between India and Russia. He was greeted at the airport by Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and accorded a guard of honor.
Upon his arrival, Modi expressed his enthusiasm for strengthening the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two nations, particularly in futuristic areas of cooperation. He highlighted that stronger ties will bring significant benefits to both populations.
In his departure statement, Modi underscored India’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region. He emphasized the progress made in the India-Russia strategic partnership over the past decade, encompassing areas like energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Modi further expressed his anticipation for comprehensive discussions with President Vladimir Putin, including reviewing bilateral cooperation and exchanging perspectives on regional and global issues.
The visit marks Modi’s first trip to Russia since 2019 and his first since the start of the Ukraine conflict. It is also his first visit in his third term as Prime Minister.
Putin is scheduled to host a private dinner for Modi on Monday evening, preceding Tuesday’s talks at the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow. The summit is anticipated to focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, and defense, with the Ukraine conflict likely to be a key topic of discussion.
Following his visit to Russia, Modi will depart for Austria on July 9, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over 40 years.
