NewKerala.com

Putin in India: A Grand Welcome Amid Deepening Strategic Ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a grand ceremonial welcome in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This marks Putin's first state visit to India in four years, highlighting the enduring partnership. The leaders are set to hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit during this two-day visit.

Key Points: Putin Receives Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan from Murmu

  • Putin inspected the tri-services guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt
  • The visit marks his first trip to India in four years for the Annual Summit
  • PM Modi broke protocol to greet Putin with a hug at the airport
  • Key talks will cover bilateral ties, business forums, and strategic cooperation
2 min read

Putin receives ceremonial welcome, Tri-Services Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Russian President Vladimir Putin receives a ceremonial welcome and tri-services guard of honour in New Delhi ahead of key bilateral talks with PM Modi.

"Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, December 5

Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he received a ceremonial welcome and the tri-services guard of honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday.

The ceremonial welcome was accorded at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, following which, Putin inspected the Guard of Honour.

The Russian, Indian national anthems were played to welcome Putin.

The Russian President is on a two-day State visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Delhi LG VK Saxena, CDS General Anil Chauhan and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.

President Droupadi Murmu and Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced each other to the dignitaries from each other's country.

Among the Russian dignitaries included Russian defence minister Andrey Belousov and Kremlin aide Dmitry Peskov.

Four years after their last in-person interaction on Indian soil, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to share the stage once again in the national capital oday for bilateral talks.

Since their last meeting here in December 2021, Putin arrived in the national capital on Thursday and PM Modi broke with protocol to geet him on the tarmac.

Following his arrival at the Palam Airport, PM Modi welcomed Putin with a hug.

Modi, in a post on X, stated that the "friendship" between the two leaders is a "time-tested one" and he was delighted to welcome Putin back to India after four years.

Both leaders shared the same car ride to Lok Kalyan Marg residence of the Prime Minister Modi where Putin was gifted a copy of the sacred Bhagwad Gita.

"Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people," the Prime Minister stated in his post.

During his visit, the Russian President will also hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with PM Modi.

Putin will also attend a India-Russia business forum and launch the RT channel in India before participating in a banguet thrown by President Murmu in his honour. He is scheduled to depart the coutnry late this evening.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The personal touch of PM Modi greeting him on the tarmac and the hug shows the depth of the relationship. Gifting the Bhagavad Gita is a beautiful gesture of our culture. Hope the talks yield concrete benefits for trade and technology transfer.
R
Rohit P
Strong ties with Russia are a cornerstone of our foreign policy. While we maintain friendships with all, this one is special. The annual summit must address the payment issues for our defence imports and explore more joint manufacturing.
P
Priya S
Respectfully, while the ceremony is impressive, I hope the discussions go beyond symbolism. The common citizen wants to know how this friendship translates to cheaper fuel, more jobs, and advanced healthcare tech. The outcomes matter more than the optics.
V
Vikram M
Seeing President Murmu leading the introductions is wonderful. It's a moment of pride. Russia has stood by us in difficult times. Let's hope this visit strengthens cooperation in space, nuclear energy, and counter-terrorism. The world is watching.
M
Michael C
The diplomatic choreography is impeccable. Breaking protocol for the airport welcome sends a powerful message. In today's multipolar world, maintaining this independent and historic partnership is a masterstroke for India's strategic autonomy.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50