In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday for a two-day visit, marking his first trip to the country since Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. The visit comes at a crucial time when Russia's proximity to China has complicated the long-standing partnership between India and Russia.

Modi commenced his visit by meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence just outside Moscow. The two leaders engaged in talks, which will be further continued at the Kremlin on Tuesday. This visit follows Modi's participation in a forum in Vladivostok in 2019, as well as their meeting in Uzbekistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in September 2022.

Modi took to social media platform X, posting pictures of his arrival in Moscow in both Russian and English. He expressed his eagerness to deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, stating that stronger ties between the nations would greatly benefit the people of both countries. He also shared a picture of himself and Putin sharing a warm embrace.

Videos shared by the Kremlin reflected the camaraderie between the two leaders, showing Putin driving Modi around his residence in a buggy and showcasing his stable of horses. The leaders also watched a horse show featuring performers in traditional Russian attire.

Expressing gratitude to Putin for hosting him at Novo-Ogaryovo, Modi conveyed his anticipation for Tuesday's talks, hoping that they would contribute to solidifying the bonds of friendship between India and Russia.

Russia has been a key ally of India since the Cold War era, with their relationship deepening further after the Kremlin's military intervention in Ukraine. The imposition of sanctions by the United States and its allies resulted in India and China emerging as crucial buyers of Russian oil. Currently, India imports over 40% of its oil from Russia.

Under Modi's leadership, India has refrained from publicly criticizing Russia's actions in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of a peaceful resolution. However, the partnership between Moscow and New Delhi has faced challenges as Russia drifts closer to China. Modi notably chose not to attend the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan, indicating India's growing estrangement from forums where Russia and China play prominent roles.

The border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020 has further strained India's relations with Russia, as it scrutinizes Russia's alignment with assertive Chinese actions in the region. Nevertheless, Modi intends to maintain close ties with Russia, which remains a significant defense supplier for India. While India has diversified its defense procurements by increasing purchases from the U.S., Israel, France, and Italy, 60% of its military equipment and systems still originate from Russia.

The current visit by Modi can also be seen as a potential opportunity for Russian President Putin to enhance his international presence, especially as he has limited foreign travel following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for his actions in Ukraine.

Trade development is expected to be a prominent aspect of the discussions between Modi and Putin. Particularly, both nations have expressed interest in establishing a maritime corridor between the Indian port of Chennai and Russia's Vladivostok, serving as a gateway to Russia's Far East. The trade volume between India and Russia reached nearly $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, primarily driven by energy cooperation. India aims to address the trade imbalance by increasing its exports to Russia, focusing on sectors such as drugs, pharmaceutical products, telecom instruments, iron and steel, marine products, and machinery.

The talks between Modi and Putin are poised to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Russia, amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics, economic cooperation, and shared interests between the nations.