First bilateral visit of the recently renewed in elections Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will visit Russia.
Just the fact that Narendra Modi makes a first bilateral visit in Russia not anywhere else is a huge message: continuation of enhanced ties with Russia amidst anything else, ties that are a crucial asset especially in the context of tensions with China. Is the first visit after the Pandemic and since the beginning of the armed conflict in Ukraine.
Head of the agenda is trade. India wants to increase Russia’s imports from India as part of oil payments or increase Russian’s investments in India. Next on the agenda is defense. India wants to continue to buy defense consumables and Russia already published on their official website about a pact that would allow both, Indian and Russian navies to use each others ports for logistic support. The pact, a few signatures away, will most probably be brought in the attention by the Russian side, along with talks about the Arctic exploration Russian program.
3rd but not least, on this talks agenda is Ukraine. Indian PM will re-assert his opinion that the solution for the conflict is not on the battlefield but in diplomacy and willing to understand each others requests and needs.