Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm birthday greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 73rd birthday during a phone conversation on Tuesday. The two leaders used the opportunity to review ongoing bilateral cooperation and reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between India and Russia. PM Modi also expressed his anticipation of welcoming President Putin to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit scheduled for December.
According to an official statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi congratulated Putin and wished him good health and continued success. The statement highlighted that both leaders reviewed the progress of various initiatives under the bilateral agenda and reiterated their shared goal of enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors. Modi also mentioned the importance of the upcoming annual summit, where both nations are expected to discuss defense, trade, energy, and strategic cooperation.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Declaration of Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, signed on October 3, 2000, by then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Putin. The declaration elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership characterized by mutual trust and coordinated approaches toward global peace, regional stability, and cooperation in economic, cultural, and educational fields.
Putin has already confirmed his visit to India in early December for the annual summit — his first since 2021. This will also be his first visit to India since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. India and Russia have maintained a long-standing tradition of alternating annual summits between New Delhi and Moscow, with 22 such meetings held so far. The most recent summit took place during PM Modi’s visit to Moscow in July last year.
Modi and Putin also met on September 1 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, where they drew attention for sharing a ride in a Russian-made Aurus sedan, a symbolic gesture of their nations’ enduring relationship.
Putin’s upcoming visit carries particular significance amid the geopolitical challenges India faces, including recent 50% U.S. tariffs and growing Western scrutiny over India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Addressing this issue, Putin remarked that any attempt by the U.S. to impose secondary tariffs on India and China — Russia’s biggest oil buyers — would not only raise global prices but also harm the American economy.
He further emphasized that India’s decisions were driven by national interest, not external pressure. “There is no political aspect here. It’s purely an economic calculation. The people of India will never allow themselves to be humiliated by anyone,” Putin stated, adding that Prime Minister Modi would never compromise the dignity of his nation.
