Modi, Putin Hold New Delhi Talks on Trade and Defence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi for wide-ranging discussions aimed at further strengthening the close ties between India and Russia.
Putin arrived in the national capital earlier in the day on a three-day visit to attend the BRICS summit. During his meeting with Modi, the two leaders are expected to focus on boosting bilateral trade, with an ambitious target of reaching USD 100 billion by 2030.
Defence cooperation is also likely to remain a major part of the discussions. The two sides are expected to explore further cooperation, including possible upgrades to BrahMos missiles. Russia has also reaffirmed its commitment to completing the remaining deliveries of the S-400 air defence systems, while discussions are expected around the proposed supply of Su-57 fighter jets.
Energy and civil nuclear cooperation will also feature prominently. India and Russia are looking at expanding cooperation in the nuclear sector, including negotiations over setting up new civil nuclear reactors. Discussions could also cover the nuclear fuel cycle and long-term lifecycle support.
The ongoing Ukraine conflict is another key issue expected to come up during the meeting. Modi and Putin had met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek last week, where Modi called for an immediate end to the conflict and urged the Russian president to move from an “endless war” towards an “end of war”.
With renewed diplomatic efforts underway, including initiatives by the Trump administration, the two leaders are expected to discuss the prospects for peace and the broader geopolitical situation.
Beyond defence and energy, India and Russia are also looking to expand industrial cooperation. Talks are expected to cover collaboration in the rail and tunnelling sectors, strengthening the steel value chain and improving access to the Russian market for Indian exporters.
The two countries are also likely to discuss increasing the movement of skilled Indian workers to Russia and expanding cooperation in critical minerals, areas seen as increasingly important for future economic and strategic ties
