Russian President Vladimir Putin commenced his two-day state visit to India with a ceremonial reception of the highest order on Friday. Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed Putin at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was honored with a tri-services guard of honor inspection.
The arrival ceremony featured the playing of both Russian and Indian national anthems, symbolizing the enduring diplomatic relationship between the nations. President Murmu and Putin subsequently introduced their respective delegations, which included Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Kremlin aide Dmitry Peskov on the Russian side, while India was represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan.
In a significant gesture of respect, President Putin visited Rajghat memorial to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, laying a wreath at the iconic site. This visit marks Putin’s first trip to Indian soil in four years, since the leaders’ last in-person meeting in December 2021.
The personal rapport between the leaders was evident when Prime Modi broke protocol to greet Putin on the tarmac upon his Thursday arrival, welcoming him with an embrace. Modi later expressed on social media platform X his delight in welcoming his ‘friend’ Putin back to India, emphasizing the ‘time-tested’ friendship between their nations.
The agenda for the visit includes the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where both leaders will engage in comprehensive bilateral discussions. Additional events include Putin’s participation in an India-Russia business forum, the launch of RT channel in India, and a state banquet hosted by President Murmu before his scheduled departure later today.