Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit India on December 6, Learn key details

Putin’s visit to India 2021: Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India on December 6, 2021, for the Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During Putin’s visit to India, a number of agreements are expected to be signed in the fields of economy, defense, science and technology, and trade. Russian President Putin’s visit coincides with the delivery of the first batch of S400 air defense systems to India by the end of 2021. Putin ‘s visit will be preceded by the first 2 + 2 dialogue of the meeting of the Foreign and Defense Ministers and a joint military commission.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on December 6: Key agendas

During Putin’s visit to India on December 6, 2021, a number of agreements in the fields of economy, defense, science and technology, trade are expected to be signed. The Summit will also witness the renewal of a framework for military-technical cooperation for the next decade (2021-31). It is also possible to announce a joint committee on technology and science.

India and Russia are in the process of concluding negotiations on the Mutual Exchange Logistics Agreement (RELOS) which is likely to be signed during the Summit or the first 2 + 2 dialogue of the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

The situation and developments in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over are also expected to be discussed during the 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue and the Summit. In August 2021, Prime Minister Monti and Russian President Putin announced the creation of a permanent channel between India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev for talks on Afghanistan.

The visit of the Russian President coincides with the delivery of his first batch S400 air defense systems in India by the end of 2021. India and Russia had signed the S400 air defense systems contract in October 2018.

In addition to strategic areas of discussion, the COVID-19 crisis and the overall health sector will also be discussed. India is a major production hub for the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.

Read also: India likely to be first buyer of Russian S-500 anti-aircraft missile system

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s last visit to India

Last, Russian President Putin visited India in 2018 for the Annual Summit at which the S400 system agreement was signed between India and Russia. The latest version of the India-Russia Summit in 2020 has been postponed due to COVID-19.

List of international presidential trips made by Vladimir Putin in 2021

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, his visit to India on December 6 will be Putin’s second overseas visit in 2021.

Putin’s first foreign visit in 2021 was to Geneva for a summit meeting with US President Joe Biden. Putin had attended the G20 summit in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis in Russia.