Bhathiya Barukanda
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India later this year, and the dates are currently being finalised. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval confirmed this during his visit to Moscow on Thursday. During his meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Doval said New Delhi is “excited and delighted” about the upcoming engagement. He also described the past India-Russia summits as “watershed moments” in bilateral relations, underlining the significance of the forthcoming meeting.
Here’s what NSA Ajit Doval said
“You have very rightly mentioned that we have a very special relationship, a long relationship, and we highly value our strategic partnership. We have had high-level engagements, and these high-level engagements have contributed very substantially. We are very excited and delighted to learn about the visit of President Putin to India. I think that the dates are almost finalised now,” said Ajit Doval.
PM Modi and President Putin met twice last year
It should be noted that PM Modi and President Putin met twice last year – once during PM Modi’s visit to Moscow in July for the 22nd India-Russia summit, which marked his first bilateral trip since beginning his third term in office. During his visit, PM Modi was conferred with Russia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, for his contributions to strengthening India-Russia ties. The second time, the two leaders met again in October in Kazan, when PM Modi attended the BRICS Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Russia in July last year, and he and President Vladimir Putin highly appreciated the special nature of this time-tested relationship, which is based on trust, mutual understanding and strategic convergence.
According to a joint statement after a meeting between the two leaders, they positively assessed the multi-faceted, mutually beneficial India-Russia relations that span all possible areas of cooperation, including political and strategic, military and security, trade and investment, energy, science and technology, nuclear, space, cultural, education and humanitarian cooperation.
It was noted with satisfaction that both sides are actively exploring new avenues for cooperation while further strengthening cooperation in the traditional areas.
Putin’s visit to India comes amid trade tension with US
It is significant to note that Putin’s visit to India comes at a sensitive time, amid escalating trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington over India’s purchase of Russian oil.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, citing India’s purchases of Russian oil. The US President also threatened secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian crude unless Moscow agrees to end the war in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year, by Friday.
In the meantime, the Kremlin confirmed that President Putin is expected to meet with Trump in the coming days.
source:indiatvnews.com
