New Delhi – In a gesture that underscored the deep personal rapport between the two nations’ leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unexpected appearance at Delhi’s airport on Wednesday evening to greet Russian President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival.
Defying standard diplomatic protocol, Modi personally welcomed Putin, shaking hands, embracing him warmly, and exchanging cordial greetings before the pair departed together. The leaders shared a ride in Modi’s signature Toyota Fortuner, a detail that highlighted the informal yet significant nature of the encounter.
Russia’s state-owned Sputnik news agency described the moment as a “personal touch” that caught the Russian delegation off guard. According to Sputnik, Modi’s decision to receive Putin in person had not been communicated in advance, adding an element of surprise to the proceedings.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) echoed this sentiment in a post on X, noting the prime minister’s break from convention. “In a notable departure from usual practice, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi personally welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival at the Delhi airport,” the party stated, attaching a photo of the leaders’ meeting. Putin is on a two-day state visit to India, where he will join Modi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit on Thursday.
Later that evening, the two heads of state were set to convene for a private dinner hosted by Modi at his official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg. While specifics of the menu or agenda remained under wraps, the intimate setting promised an opportunity for candid discussions away from the summit’s formalities.
This airport rendezvous evoked a reciprocal moment from September, when Putin extended a similar courtesy to Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. There, the Russian president invited his Indian counterpart for a ride in his official vehicle amid heightened global tensions, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs targeting India’s oil imports from Moscow.
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On Thursday, Modi and Putin are slated to hold substantive bilateral talks, with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials emphasizing trade and economic ties as the cornerstone. Bilateral trade has surged in recent years, though India is actively addressing a persistent deficit. New Delhi aims to ramp up exports of items such as marine products, potatoes, pomegranates, processed foods, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals to Russia.
India’s dependence on Russian fertilizers—importing three to five million tonnes each year—further underscores the partnership’s vitality, with both sides keen to expand collaboration in this sector. As the summit unfolds, these discussions could pave the way for even stronger economic synergies between the long-standing allies.
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