Modi-Putin Meet on Dec 5, Several MoUs Lined Up

Modi-Putin Meet: In a development drawing intense attention across Western capitals, Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi on December 4–5 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. The Putin India Visit, officially announced by the Indian government on Friday, signals a diplomatic moment layered with opportunity, complexity and global scrutiny. Putin is set to land on the evening of December 4, with formal talks scheduled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the following morning.

This visit marks Putin’s first trip to India since the Ukraine conflict erupted in February 2022, and unlike his brief 2021 stopover during the pandemic, this will be a full-fledged State Visit, complete with a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. The Russian leader has travelled selectively since the war—visiting mostly neighbouring countries such as China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan—making his arrival in New Delhi even more significant.

Modi-Putin Meet: India Aims to Reassert Strategic Autonomy

Officials expect a wide range of agreements and MoUs to be signed during the summit, spanning defence, trade, energy, technology, and cultural cooperation. For New Delhi, the Putin India Visit offers a platform to reaffirm its long-standing, trust-based relationship with Moscow—one that has historically formed a pillar of India’s defence and energy architecture.

But it also presents a delicate balancing act.

India’s ability to maintain strategic autonomy will be tested as it deepens cooperation with Russia while simultaneously advancing critical relationships with Western partners. With the US and EU watching closely, New Delhi is aware that its choices this week could shape diplomatic conversations in the months ahead.

Western Sensitivities Loom Over Defence and Energy Deals

India is currently negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, even as Washington has imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports tied to its discounted oil purchases from Russia. Major outcomes from the summit—especially those related to defence and energy—will likely be scrutinized in Washington and European capitals.

At the same time, India is preparing for a pivotal EU-India Summit in January, expected to announce breakthroughs in trade, defence cooperation, and potentially the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA). New Delhi is determined not to signal that ties with Moscow outweigh relationships with partners that are essential to India’s long-term economic and security interests.

Modi-Putin Meet: Key Issues on the Table: Trade Deficit & Defence Modernisation

One of India’s key priorities during the Putin India Visit will be addressing its soaring trade deficit with Russia, widened by massive imports of discounted crude oil since 2022. New Delhi is expected to push for expanded market access and more balanced trade flows.

Another critical subject is India’s proposal to acquire five additional squadrons of the S-400 air defence system, a move seen as important for strengthening India’s air defence capabilities but one that could attract geopolitical attention.

In Moscow’s own statement previewing the summit, Russia described the visit as an opportunity to review the “entire spectrum” of the Russia-India Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, covering politics, trade, economics, science, technology, culture, and humanitarian cooperation.