Putin In India: Russian President Tells India Today Ties With Modi Not Anti-US; 'Car Diplomacy' Returns

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In a significant diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin at the airport, marking the start of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. The two leaders displayed 'Car Diplomacy 2.0' by driving together to the PM's residence. Speaking exclusively to India Today, President Putin addressed Western pressure, stating, 'Neither me nor Prime Minister Modi, despite certain external pressure we face, have ever... approached our collaboration to work against someone.' The special report highlights the potential S-500 Prometheus air defence deal and analyses India's $60 billion crude oil imports from Russia.

Transcript

00:00as Vladimir Putin is in New Delhi for the India-Russia annual summit that will be taking place.

00:06Now, as soon as Vladimir Putin touched down in Delhi, a clear message was sent out

00:11that this isn't like any other state visit.

00:14The Russian president received a ceremonial welcome that no protocol book could predict.

00:20Prime Minister Modi himself was at the aircraft ramp, the two old friends sharing a bear hug

00:26and minutes later driving off together in a display of Car Diplomacy 2.0.

00:32Day one of Putin's visit to India wasn't about speeches or summit notes.

00:38It was only about signals and symbols.

00:43Now, the most important signal being the bonhomie of the two nations and their leaders.

00:48That is, take a look at this report as to how this camaraderie was on full display last evening

00:56when, in fact, Prime Minister Modi hosted the president at his own official residence for a dinner later.

01:04A red carpet.

01:23A cultural greeting.

01:30And Prime Minister Modi himself receiving.

01:34This wasn't any other welcoming of a head of state.

01:38It was one that went beyond protocol and into the realm of personal bonds.

01:45As Russian President Vladimir Putin descended from his aircraft,

01:49he was greeted warmly and embraced by PM Narendra Modi.

01:56What followed was a sequel of the much-loved Car Diplomacy,

01:59two of the world's most powerful leaders ditching protocol and hitching a ride together,

02:05boosting their friendship.

02:10It's peak camaraderie that the world has already seen just three months ago,

02:14when the Prime Minister had met the Russian president this fall in China.

02:18The two leaders had then spent 45 minutes conversing,

02:21sharing laughs, and discussing the world order in Vladimir Putin's car.

02:27The Russian president himself told India today how there was no orchestration,

02:31no obligation,

02:32just two friends getting together in one car,

02:35two friends who always have something to talk about.

02:38We were talking about just the current agenda.

02:44It was not pre-planned.

02:46We just went outside into the street,

02:49and my car was there,

02:51and I suggested that we should get together,

02:53just, you know,

02:54as a sign of friendship,

02:55of a comradeship.

02:56There's nothing,

02:57you know,

02:58no complicated orchestration,

03:02just as friends.

03:03We got together in one car,

03:04and we spoke along the road.

03:07There was always something to talk about.

03:09And, you know,

03:10we had a conversation.

03:11We even sat in the car for quite some time,

03:13and then I said,

03:14yes,

03:14we should go because they're waiting for us.

03:16But there's nothing special around that.

03:18It just testifies to the fact that there's a lot we have to talk about,

03:22and these topics are of importance to us.

03:25From Putin's black limousine to Modi's white Fortuna,

03:29these aren't pre-planned diplomatic gestures.

03:32They are a repeated show of the ties

03:34that India and Russia share.

03:38Even the corridors of Kremlin were left surprised.

03:41Russian officials said that Modi's decision to meet Putin

03:44at the ramp of the aircraft was unexpected,

03:47a clear sign that this visit would be more than just business as usual.

03:52And why wouldn't it?

03:54After all,

03:54it is Putin's first visit to India since 2021.

03:57It's a visit that reflects renewed focus on boosting trade,

04:00defence cooperation,

04:01and energy partnership.

04:03And it's a visit that signals New Delhi and Moscow repelling Washington's increased pressure

04:08on India to stop buying Russian oil.

04:10Neither me, nor Prime Minister Modi, despite certain external pressure we face,

04:17have ever, and I want to emphasise this, I want you to hear it,

04:22approached our collaboration to work against someone.

04:25President Trump has his own agenda, his own goals, whereas we focus on ours,

04:32not against anyone, but rather aimed at safeguarding our respective interests, India's and Russia's interests.

04:40As President Putin rightly pointed out, these ties really do go decades back,

04:53not just between the two nations, but also between Modi and Putin themselves.

04:58The share of bond built over nearly 25 years, a relationship that began in 2001,

05:05when as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi had accompanied then-Prime Minister Atal Bari Vajpayee to Moscow and met President Putin.

05:15This marked the beginning of a connection that has only deepened with time.

05:19On Friday, as Vladimir Putin concludes his 11th visit to India, ties with Moscow aren't just being reaffirmed,

05:26they are being reimagined.

05:28And the bonhomie between Modi and Putin is riding shotgun on the powerful message being sent to the Western world.

05:35We are a report, India Today.

05:41With that, viewers, let's quickly take a look at what exactly are we looking at when we discuss the bilateral talks,

05:48that's to take place later in the day.

05:50And as we have been mentioning time and again, the defence seems to be at the topmost priority of that very list,

05:57apart from trade talks that will take place between the two leaders.

06:00Here is a very data set that we present to you in terms of India's arm imports.

06:07And this is the Russia reset that it has, in fact, undergone.

06:11From the years 2010 to 2014, we've seen it at 72%.

06:15Again, this is from SIPRI data, the source being SIPRI data.

06:202015 onward to 2019, we have seen it come down a bit to 55%.

06:26And then 2020 to 2024, we again look at it coming down to 36%.

06:34So that is where it currently stands in terms of India's imports.

06:38And this is the arms imports that we're discussing about as to how it has travelled the trajectory over the years.

06:44And this is the Russian reset that we are, in fact, discussing about.

06:48With that, let's also take you through the defence cooperation,

06:51which is also another very important subject matter that will be taken up by the two leaders today

06:56at the very bilateral meeting that is to take place.

06:59This is S-400 air defence systems, the T-90 tanks and the T-72 upgrades,

07:07the Su-30 and the MiG-29 fighter jets, the Krivak-class stealth frigates,

07:14the Kamov Ka-31 helicopters, the Chakra 3 nuclear-powered attack sub,

07:22the BMP-2 IFVS amphibious infantry vehicles.

07:28So these are the ones, these are the missionaries or rather the systems, the defence systems,

07:35that seem to be of top priority in terms of discussions.

07:39It's also something that we heard from the President, rather the President addressing

07:43upon when the question was posed by both of our colleagues, Geetha Mohan and Anjana Umkashyap,

07:51when they were discussing a plethora of subjects with him in the exclusive interview.

07:56And right now let's, as we speak of the defence systems and the defence cooperation

07:59between the two countries, let's take you through what exactly is the current situation.

08:03India already feels the proven S-400 air defence system, but the big focus now is on what comes next,

08:10that is the next generation, the fifth generation, the S-500s.

08:14From battlefield tested protection to the near-space interception capabilities,

08:19here's how India's missile shield could be transformed with the Russian support.

08:24Let's take a look at this report.

08:26The S-400 air defence missile system, the difference maker during Operation Sindur,

08:40it came from Russia with love and brought Pakistan to its knees.

08:46But if India's enemies thought that the S-400 was deadly,

08:50wait till they face the wrath of the S-500.

09:00A high-stakes visit, advanced air defence systems, potentially defining India's security posture,

09:06all on the agenda. And the big headline is the next generation S-500 Prometheus.

09:11Unlike the S-400, the S-500 isn't just about air threats. It promises a multi-domain shield, air,

09:23ballistic missile, even near-space defence. It's reached up to roughly 500 to 600 kilometres,

09:30with an altitude intercept capability as high as 180 to 200 kilometres. That's a massive jump from the S-400's

09:38roughly 400-kilometre range and 30-kilometre altitude ceiling. The S-400 counters aircraft,

09:45drones and cruise missiles. The S-500 aims to handle all of that,

09:50plus long-range ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons and strategic threats.

09:55If the deal goes through, and especially if co-production begins on Indian soil,

10:04the S-500 could become India's single biggest defence acquisition from Russia.

10:12With Putin in New Delhi this week, attention is firmly on whether the S-500 deal and perhaps even

10:17joint production will be sealed. If it is, India's air and missile defence architecture

10:22could enter a new era. We are a report, India Today.

10:31Now viewers, that is the defence sector that we are looking at, the defence cooperation rather,

10:36that we are looking at between the two nations. But let's also take you to another important part

10:41of discussion that we all have our eyes set on today, which is the trade relations between the two.

10:49Now, let us quickly take you through what the 2024 Indian imports report card looks like from Russia.

10:56If we look at crude oil and fuels, it stands at $60 billion, edible oils at $2.25 billion,

11:04fertilisers at $1.61 billion, precious stones at $783 million and other miscellaneous commodities at $766

11:14million. So this is a report of sorts that we bring to you from the year 2024, that is the previous year,

11:21in terms of how the trade relations have been or rather, more specifically, what the import value,

11:27the worth of imports made from Russia has been in the year 2024 and that is where it stands at.

11:33So yes, the day's agenda is set. It is Namaste Putin and the bilateral talks that is to take

11:42place with President Putin and Prime Minister Modi already haven't shown a full display of camaraderie

Putin In India: Russian President Tells India Today Ties With Modi Not Anti-US; 'Car Diplomacy' Returns

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