NEW DELHI, India—The national capital of India has become an impregnable fortress as it extends the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin. As a special gesture on his arrival for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, he said his two-day visit is aimed at reaffirming the strategic partnership.
This visit — the first to India by Putin in almost four years — is not merely a diplomatic event: it is a logistical and security exercise on a major scale, placing Delhi on its highest alert level. The prestigious Lutyens’ Zone, home to swinging Delhi from the 1950s back when Jawaharlal Nehru was prime minister, is ground zero of an unprecedented security cess up designed to ensure that one of the world’s most protected VVIPs remains well and truly safe.
An Iron-Clad Security Grid
A minute to minute, multi-tier security grid is being maintained to ensure the safety of the Russian delegation which will have seven high-level ministers. The magnitude of the deployment highlights how strategically significant this visit is:
Personnel: Over 5,000 police and para militaries are manning the area concentrating on the airport, Rashtrapati Bhavan, important government buildings and the hotels housing the delegation.
VVIP Route Sanitisation All planned VVIP Routes have been cleared in advance. This includes posting SWAT teams, anti-terror units and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) at vulnerable points. Snipers its route on rooftops of buildings.
Aerial Watch: The national capital airspace is guarded with stringent measures, which includes a strong network of anti-drone systems and the constant eyes in the sky around sensitive installations.
Command Structure: Indian security forces are coordinating closely with the Russian advance security teams (AST) who control the immediate perimeter around the President, providing an unprecedented level of protection.
There have been traffic advisories issued from time to time to deal with the expected chaos, asking people not to take certain roads in and around the diplomatic area. The aim is to keep the visiting VIP safe (and the city’s residents inconvenienced as little as possible).
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While the warm reception and ceremonial guard of honour for Friday morning is important, the heart of her visit lies in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the edition of talks which are likely to be crucial, concentrating on diversifying and enhancing the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.
Key Areas of Discussion:
Defence Cooperation: The long-standing linchpin of the relationship continues to be high on the agenda. The selling of five additional S-400 Triumf air-defence squadrons, as well as Moscow’s pressure on New Delhi to acquire the Russian fifth-generation Sukhoi-57 fighter jets is expected to be prominent in discussions. Perhaps more important is the fact that days before the visit, the Russian Parliament passed a law enabling both countries’ armed forces to use each other’s military facilities for refuelling, repair and supply—another strategic milestone.
Energy and Economic Links: With energy now being the cornerstone of ties, there will be discussions on how best to insulate two-way trade from external geopolitical forces, especially Western sanctions. There is a strong momentum towards achieving the ambitious trade target of $100 billion by 2030.
New Frontiers: Conversations are evolving towards new frontiers, including forming partnerships around Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in civil nuclear energy cooperation, joint ventures in the Indian space programme, increasing market access for exports of Indian products such as agricultural and marine goods, and even the prospect of a Free Trade Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union.
Prime Minister Modi and President Putin will also sign Agreement on the Development Programme of cooperation in economic, trade and investment spheres as well as an MoU between Federation Skill Centre “India-Russia” for General Chemistry Labour Market Information (GMK) for the next 10 years. After the summit, President Putin will also call on President Droupadi Murmu, who will host a state banquet in his honor.
The conclusion of these engagements is expected to reflect the resurgence and revitalized bond between India and the US, as Indian leaders would demonstrate that India has retained its strategic autonomy by engaging with all political powers.
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