What happened
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend warm greetings on his 73rd birthday, reaffirming the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. During the call, PM Modi conveyed his best wishes for President Putin’s good health and success, and both leaders reviewed progress on the bilateral agenda while reiterating their commitment to strengthen cooperation across diverse sectors.
Why it matters to India
The conversation underscores the continuity and depth of India-Russia ties, ahead of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in December, which will coincide with the 15th anniversary of elevating the strategic partnership to a “special and privileged” level. The call also follows their meeting at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where regional and global developments were discussed. This engagement comes shortly after the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership, highlighting enduring cooperation in defence, energy, science and technology, trade, education, and culture.