India, Russia push to seal new pacts before Putin's Delhi visit

India and Russia are moving to seal a slate of bilateral agreements, initiatives and projects in the run-up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi in December for their annual bilateral summit. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the remarks during a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation gathering. Putin’s trip to India is expected in the first week of December, with the two sides aiming to deepen their cooperation within their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

Jaishankar, speaking alongside Lavrov, said the talks were “more important” as officials work to finalise a range of pacts across various fields in the coming days, adding that these would add substance and texture to the bilateral ties. The discussions come as New Delhi navigates a broader international context, including pressure from the United States to reduce purchases of Russian energy and military hardware. India’s energy landscape has already seen shifts, including a move by state-run companies to conclude a one-year structured contract importing 2.2 million tonnes per annum of LPG from the United States.

Despite external pressures, Indian officials emphasise that the India–Russia relationship has long been a stabilising factor in international relations and that its evolution benefits not only the two nations but also global stability. The Moscow talks occurred as the SCO convened its Council of the Heads of Government, underscoring the broader regional and global context in which these negotiations are taking place.

Putin’s Delhi visit is anticipated to yield concrete outcomes on new pacts and a stronger strategic partnership, with both sides projecting a more substantive agenda for the years ahead.

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