Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a joint press conference in New Delhi on Friday, December 5, during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where Modi lauded their enduring partnership as a “North Star” navigating global uncertainties and pledged to combat terrorism “shoulder to shoulder,” invoking a poignant Pahalgam message.
The duo finalised a comprehensive economic cooperation programme extending to 2030, alongside multiple pacts on defence, trade, energy, nuclear energy, healthcare, and Russia’s accession to the International Big Cat Alliance, following Modi’s ceremonial airport welcome, a private dinner at his residence, and intensive bilateral discussions at Hyderabad House.
Putin committed to seamless supplies despite geopolitical strains, while Modi reaffirmed India’s position “on the side of peace” regarding Ukraine; stakeholders including business leaders and officials expressed unanimous support, with bilateral trade volumes now surpassing USD 80-90 billion annually amid resilient people-to-people ties.
North Star of Enduring Partnership
This summit underscores the robustness of India-Russia relations, rooted in a strategic partnership declared in 2000 that has evolved into multifaceted collaboration benefiting millions through defence procurements, energy security, and technological exchanges.
Modi articulated on X, “India-Russia friendship is a time-tested one that has greatly benefitted our people,” highlighting how these ties insulate economies from external shocks like sanctions and supply disruptions.
Putin echoed this sentiment, noting his personal involvement in steering the dialogue, including five telephone conversations with Modi in 2025 and their recent SCO Summit encounter in China, which culminated in a warm airport embrace symbolising mutual trust.
Vital statistics reveal the partnership’s depth: bilateral trade has ballooned to USD 80-90 billion, propelled by discounted Russian oil imports that now constitute nearly half of India’s crude needs, alongside surging exports in pharmaceuticals and machinery.
Defence deals remain pivotal, with ongoing S-400 system deliveries despite Ukraine-related delays, potential Su-30MKI modernisations, and explorations into advanced platforms like the S-500 air defence or Su-57 fighters.
Over 15 commercial memorandums were inked at a concurrent business forum, involving giants like Rosatom for Kudankulam nuclear plant expansions and Roscosmos for liquid rocket engines, humanising the alliance through enhanced worker mobility pacts and healthcare collaborations that promise tangible improvements in everyday lives.
These agreements extend to environmental stewardship, with Russia joining the International Big Cat Alliance to bolster conservation efforts for tigers and leopards, reflecting shared commitments to biodiversity amid climate challenges.
Modi’s Pahalgam reference evoking a recent terror incident infused the proceedings with urgency, positioning the duo as united fronts against extremism, while Putin’s assurances of “uninterrupted supplies” addressed India’s energy anxieties head-on.
Foundations of Dialogue and Strategic Autonomy
The summit’s prelude featured a ceremonial dinner hosted by Modi at his residence, fostering candid exchanges before formal closed-door sessions at Hyderabad House, where leaders reviewed progress on prior commitments and charted pathways for qualitative elevation.
Putin, ahead of the visit, expressed in Moscow his aim “to elevate India-Russia ties,” emphasising energy and defence exports as pillars amid Western tariffs and geopolitical flux. This builds on a series of high-level interactions, including Modi’s multiple Russia visits and their SCO alignment, demonstrating India’s strategic autonomy in balancing relations without alienating partners.
Contextualising the Ukraine shadow, Modi clarified unequivocally, “India is not neutral, India is on the side of peace,” urging a swift return to the pre-conflict global order a stance that resonates with India’s advocacy for dialogue in multilateral forums.
Discussions ventured into futuristic domains like small modular reactors for clean energy, maritime security exchanges, and digital health initiatives, with business delegations from both sides sealing deals worth billions.
President Droupadi Murmu’s impending banquet further ceremonialises the visit, hosted by India’s first citizen to honour Putin’s stature.
Post-conference, delegations pursued technical talks on BrahMos missile expansions and rare earth minerals cooperation, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by global conflicts.
These developments follow Putin’s assurance of priority oil shipments, critical as India navigates U.S. tariff threats on Russian-origin energy, yet prioritises economic pragmatism for its 1.4 billion citizens.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian views this Modi-Putin summit as a profound testament to peace through dialogue, embodying kindness, empathy, and harmony in an era scarred by division and aggression. By weaving economic resilience with anti-terrorism resolve and environmental pledges, India and Russia illuminate a path of coexistence that transcends borders, inspiring positive social change through compassionate leadership rather than confrontation. Such alliances remind us that shared prosperity flourishes in mutual respect, fostering global stability for generations.
