Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to extend heartfelt birthday greetings on his 73rd birthday, reinforcing the deep ties between India and Russia. In their fourth phone conversation since early August, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between their nations, a bond that has remained a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy for decades.
During the call, Modi congratulated Putin and wished him good health and success, according to an official Indian statement. The leaders reviewed the progress of their bilateral agenda, discussing key areas of cooperation, including trade, defense, and strategic initiatives. Modi expressed enthusiasm for hosting Putin in India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, tentatively scheduled for December 5, 2025. The summit is expected to yield significant outcomes, further solidifying the robust strategic ties between New Delhi and Moscow.
The call follows Putin’s gesture last month, when he rang Modi on September 17 to wish him on his birthday, highlighting the personal rapport between the two leaders. Preparations for Putin’s upcoming visit are already underway, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov set to travel to India next month to finalize the details of the high-profile summit. While it remains unclear whether Putin’s visit will span one or two days, expectations are high for productive discussions that will advance the bilateral relationship.
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The annual summit is a key mechanism under which India and Russia review their wide-ranging partnership, with 22 such meetings held alternately in both countries so far. Modi’s last visit to Moscow in July 2024 for the annual summit underscored the enduring partnership, with Russia remaining a time-tested ally for India. Additionally, a meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) is expected before Putin’s arrival, signaling continued collaboration in defense and technology.
As India and Russia gear up for the December summit, the leaders’ frequent interactions reflect their shared commitment to deepening ties across multiple domains. From strategic cooperation to economic partnerships, the upcoming summit is poised to chart a new chapter in the India-Russia relationship, reinforcing their position as key global partners in a rapidly changing world.
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