PM Modi dials Vladimir Putin to wish him on 73rd birthday: India, Russia to ‘further deepen’ special partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, October 7, to wish him on his 73rd birthday.

“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with the President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin,” a press release from the Prime Minister's Office stated.

The PMO said PM Modi "warmly congratulated President Putin on his 73rd birthday and conveyed best wishes for good health and success in all his endeavours."

It further informed that the two leaders reviewed the progress in the bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.

PM Modi also conveyed that he looks forward to welcoming President Putin to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

India-Russia Annual Summit

The India-Russia annual summit is set to take place in early December.

PM Modi invited President Putin to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit scheduled to be held later this year. India and Russia are strategic partners, and President Putin’s visit will be part of a scheduled annual dialogue between the two countries.

The announcement came amid 50 percent US tariff imposed on Indian exports, penalising the country for its Russian oil imports. Trump’s decision to punish India came as negotiations between the two countries on a trade deal were expected to conclude.

India’s external affairs ministry termed the imposition of additional tariffs as “extremely unfortunate” as other countries also trade with the Russian Federation.

US President Donald Trump's administration also introduced new H-1B visa rules recently.

In the wake of the US tariff announcement, India earlier signed agreements with Russia to deepen cooperation in aerospace science and technology as well as in rare earth minerals, aluminium, fertilisers, railway transport and other sectors.

Earlier on Monday, Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza conflict, the Kremlin said.

Putin and Netanyahu also expressed interest in finding negotiated solutions to the situation around the Iranian nuclear programme and in further stabilisation in Syria.

(With inputs from agencies)