New delhi: Russian and Indian leaders will hold official talks today, where they are expected to expand cooperation in various fields.
According to Thai News Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to hold formal talks today, aimed at boosting bilateral trade. Russia is a major arms supplier to India and also imports significant amounts of cheap Russian oil, as European countries reduced their reliance on Russian energy in response to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The two sides aim to expand trade to $100 billion by 2030. The two leaders will also discuss other issues, including labor and civilian nuclear energy, with new agreements expected to be announced.
This is the first visit by a Russian leader to India in four years and will be a two-day official visit. Putin arrived in New Delhi late yesterday and was warmly welcomed by Modi at the airport. The Indian leader then hosted the Russian leader for a private dinner at the Prime Minister's residence, where they held informal talks. The visit, accompanied by business delegations and government officials, is scheduled to conclude this evening.
Russia and India are expected to expand their economic ties beyond energy and defense. Amid the strained relations between Russia and the West, stemming from the war in Ukraine and President Donald Trump's tariffs, which have impacted global exports, India is looking for new markets to replace the US. Meanwhile, the Russian agriculture minister has revealed that he will increase imports of rice, shrimp, and fruit from India, and that Russia is also interested in Indian food processing equipment.