India and Russia are expecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Moscow in early July. If the visit goes ahead, it will be Modi’s first visit to Russia since 2019 and the first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Putin last visited India in 2021 and has not visited in the past two years due to the annual India-Russia summit.
India and Russia: Trip Significant
PM Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia will be his first since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. PM Modi last visited Russia in September 2019 to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. This will be the first visit by an Indian President in five years.
PM Modi will also be visiting Moscow for the first time since 2015. He had already visited Vladivostok in 2019. Modi will be taking over for his third consecutive term in power and will visit Russia barely a month after Putin was re-elected for a fifth time as Russian president in March.
PM Modi’s visit comes ahead of the BRICS summit, which Russia will chair this year. The summit will be held in Kazan in October and the Indian Prime Minister is also expected to attend as India is a leading member of the group. Modi’s possible visit to Moscow comes amid reports that he may skip the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled to be held in Astana in the first week of July.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will hold its next summit on July 3-4, and the venue will be Astana. pic.twitter.com/K9iePtQEN7
— Yuri (@Yuri74762189812) June 25, 2024
The Indian President’s decision not to attend the summit could signal a strategic move regarding regional development. Russia is the largest supplier of defense equipment to India and sells crude oil to the Asian country at discounted prices.
India and Russia Annual Summit
The annual India-Russia summit is a major diplomatic event where the leaders of the two countries (traditionally the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia) meet under one roof to discuss bilateral relations, strategic partnership and international issues of mutual interest.
Moscow, New Delhi looking at possibility of PM Modi’s visit to Russia in early July, first visit by PM in 5 years to meet Russian President Putin for Annual Summithttps://t.co/P8CZTOUYjY
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) June 25, 2024
Russia and India have been holding summits annually since 2000, when the two countries signed the Declaration on India-Russia Strategic Partnership, the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership.
The meeting is usually held alternately in India and Russia. The tradition of the summit was established to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries through high-level meetings and discussions. This has paved the way for further collaboration and partnership in many areas.
Economic Cooperation and Trade Relations
Economic cooperation is also one of the key aspects of PM Modi’s visit to Russia. Despite volatility in the global market, the two countries continue to explore opportunities to expand trade and investment relations. Discussions during the visit are expected to explore opportunities for further cooperation in the energy sector, including exploration and production projects.
In addition to the energy sector, sectors such as pharmaceuticals, information technology and space exploration also have great potential for bilateral trade and investment.
PM Modi’s visit is expected to include strengthening economic partnership through joint ventures, technology transfer and promoting business ties between the two countries.
Strategic Partnership and Future Direction
Overall, the outcome of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia highlighted the strategic partnership between India and Russia and laid the foundation for future cooperation in various fields. The agreements and discussions reflect a shared commitment to deepen ties and leverage each other’s strengths for mutual benefit.
Looking ahead, India and Russia are ready to build on these achievements and further strengthen their partnership in defense, economy, culture and geopolitics. The visit reaffirmed the importance of bilateral relations in the evolving global situation and set a positive tone for future engagement between the two countries.
The outcomes of this visit are likely to chart a course for future cooperation, reflecting India’s strategic priorities and its role in the evolving global order.
