By Rohit Srivastava

Proving the speculations wrong, no big ticket defence agreement was signed during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. Two sides in agreed to achieve bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030 through joint venture in fertilizers, high-tech, defence manufacturing, nuclear energy, railways and maritime corridors.

The joint statement released after the conclusion of the summit lays down a renewed vision for comprehensive bilateral cooperation between the strategic partners. “The Leaders positively assessed the multi-faceted mutually beneficial India-Russia relations that span all areas of cooperation, including political and strategic, military and security, trade and investment, energy, science and technology, nuclear, space, cultural, education and humanitarian cooperation.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin is on two-day state visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed Russian President at the airport on Thursday. Later the two leaders had a close door meeting at prime minister’s residence.  President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan where he was received by President Droupadi Murmu and Indian Prime Minister.

Underlining the resilience in Russia-India ties, the statement affirmed the resolve of two nations “to forge a contemporary, balanced, mutually beneficial, sustainable and long-term partnership. Development of India-Russia relations across the entire spectrum is a shared foreign policy priority.”

Earlier during the day, the two leaders addressed the press. Welcoming the Russian President, Prime Minister Modi said, “His visit comes at a time when our bilateral relationship is going through several historic milestones. Exactly 25 years ago, President Putin laid the foundation of our Strategic Partnership. Fifteen years ago, in 2010, our partnership was elevated to the level of a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership."

To make bilateral “trade and investment more diversified, balanced, and sustainable” Indian prime minister announced “Economic Cooperation Program until 2030” which will elevate mutual economic cooperation to new heights, a shared priority.

“Both sides are actively working towards the early conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union,” he added.

Speaking on the connectivity, Modi said, “We will move forward with renewed energy on the INSTC (International North–South Transport Corridor), the Northern Sea Route, and the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridors. I am pleased that we will now cooperate on the training of India’s seafarers for operations in polar waters. This will not only strengthen our collaboration in the Arctic but also create new employment opportunities for the youth of India.”

“Similarly, our strong cooperation in shipbuilding has the potential to further strengthen Make in India. It is yet another excellent example of our win-win partnership, which will enhance jobs, skills, and regional connectivity,” he added.

During his meeting with Indian premier, Russian President said, “As for our bilateral relations, they represent a partnership with profound historical depth. However we choose to describe it, the true substance is what matters – and that substance is remarkably strong. We value this deeply, and we note, Mr Prime Minister, considerable personal attention you devote to nurturing it.”

“In recent years, we have accomplished a great deal in advancing our ties. As our nations and economies progress, so do the opportunities for our collaboration. We are adding new avenues for cooperation and joint advancement, including projects in areas such as high technology, aviation, space, and artificial intelligence. Our partnership in the military-technical sphere continues to be a cornerstone of mutual trust,” he added.

Defence and Nuclear Power

On the strategic technology sector, both sides agreed to work towards more enhanced partnership.  

On the defence cooperation the statement said, “Both Sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defence equipment under Make-in-India program through transfer of technology and setting up of joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian Armed Forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries.”

India is in talk with multiple countries for export of Indo-Russian BrahMos missiles. The two countries are planning to follow Brahmos model in defence product development, manufacturing and export from India.

Confirming the intention for broader cooperation in nuclear energy, the statement informed both nations will work on “nuclear energy, including fuel cycle, life cycle support for operating Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) and non-power applications, as well as to elaborate new agenda of interaction in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy and related high technologies. The Sides noted the importance of the cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a significant component of the strategic partnership taking into account the plans of the Government of India to increase India’s nuclear energy capacity to 100 GW by 2047.”

They have agreed on the construction of the “remaining units and agreed on adhering to the timeline for supplies of equipment and fuel.”

“The Sides agreed to accelerate technical and commercial discussions on the VVER of the Russian design, research and joint development of NPPs, localization and joint manufacturing of nuclear equipment and fuel assemblies for Russian designed large capacity NPPs subject to terms and conditions as mutually agreeable,” the statement added.

President Vladimir Putin thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation in New Delhi and invited him to visit Russia in 2026 for the 24th India-Russia Annual Summit.

MoUs and Agreements.

Migration and Mobility:

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation on Temporary Labour Activity of Citizens of one State in the Territory of the other State

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in Combating Irregular Migration

Health and Food safety:

Agreement between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation on the cooperation in the field of healthcare, medical education and science

Agreement between the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being (Russian Federation) in the field of food safety

Maritime Cooperation and Polar waters:

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation on the Training of Specialists for Ships Operating in Polar Waters

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Republic of India and the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation

Fertilizers:

Memorandum of Understanding between M/s. JSC UralChem and M/s. Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited and National Fertilizers Limited and Indian Potash Limited

Customs and commerce:

Protocol between the Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs of the Government of the Republic of India and the Federal Customs Service (Russian Federation) for cooperation in exchange of Pre-arrival information in respect of goods and vehicles moved between the Republic of India and the Russian federation

Bilateral Agreement between Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications of the Republic of India between and JSC «Russian Post»

Academic collaboration:

Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and academic collaboration between Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune and Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education "National Tomsk State University”, Tomsk

Agreement regarding cooperation between University of Mumbai, Lomonosov Moscow State University and Joint-Stock Company Management Company of Russian Direct Investment Fund

Media Collaboration:

Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Collaboration on Broadcasting between Prasar Bharati, India and Joint Stock Company Gazprom-media Holding, Russian Federation.

Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Collaboration on Broadcasting between Prasar Bharati, India and National Media Group, Russia

Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Collaboration on Broadcasting between Prasar Bharati, India and the BIG ASIA Media Group

Addendum to Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation and collaboration on broadcasting between Prasar Bharati, India, and ANO "TV-Novosti”

Memorandum of Understanding between "TV BRICS” Joint-stock company and "Prasar Bharati (PB)”

Announcements

Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India - Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030

The Russian side has decided to adopt the Framework Agreement to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

Agreement for the exhibition "India. Fabric of Time” between the National Crafts Museum &Hastkala Academy (New Delhi, India) and the Tsaritsyno State Historical, Architectural, Art and Landscape Museum-Reserve (Moscow, Russia)

Grant of 30 days e-Tourist Visa on gratis basis to Russian nationals on reciprocal basis

Grant of Group Tourist Visa on gratis basis to Russian nationals