NEW DELHI: The two-day official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which began this evening with his arrival in New Delhi, is expected to significantly deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, with a strong emphasis on expanding economic cooperation and addressing the current trade imbalance.
🇷🇺🇮🇳 Russian President Vladimir #Putin arrived to #India pic.twitter.com/9ntcvQS9tO
— Russia in India 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbIndia) December 4, 2025
President Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes seven ministers and a large group of prominent Russian business leaders, signalling Moscow’s keen interest in broadening commercial ties beyond traditional defence and energy sectors.
Correcting the Trade Deficit
A key priority for New Delhi is reducing India’s growing trade deficit with Russia, which has widened sharply since 2022 because of discounted crude oil imports. Indian exports to Russia, though rising, remain far below potential.
Multiple avenues are being actively worked out to substantially increase shipments of Indian goods, particularly in the following sectors:
- Pharmaceuticals and medical devices
- Automobiles, auto components, and two- and three-wheelers
- Agricultural and marine products
- Engineering goods and telecommunications equipment
Government sources said opening the vast Russian market to these sectors will not only help balance bilateral trade but also create thousands of new jobs in India and directly improve the livelihoods of Indian farmers and fishermen.
Agreements and MoUs in the Pipeline
A bouquet of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) is expected to be signed or announced during the summit, covering:
- Shipping and maritime cooperation
- Healthcare and medical research
- Long-term fertiliser supply security
- North-South transport corridor and Chennai–Vladivostok maritime connectivity
- Digital payments and financial mechanisms to facilitate trade
Strengthening People-to-People Ties
Beyond government-to-government and business-to-business engagement, both sides are set to expand cooperation in softer areas.
Enhanced mobility partnerships, student exchanges, cultural programmes, tourism promotion, and scientific collaboration are likely to feature prominently in the joint statement.
The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin, scheduled for tomorrow, are expected to give fresh impetus to the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.
A joint media address and interaction with business leaders at the India-Russia Business Forum will cap the visit.
With both countries determined to take annual trade to US$100 billion by 2030, sources described the ongoing summit as a “turning point” in transforming a historically strong strategic partnership into an equally robust economic partnership.
