India, Russia Hold Expert Panel Talks in Delhi on Defence Cooperation
Preparations underway for Putin’s December state visit and 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit
New Delhi, Nov 28: India and Russia held a three day expert panel meeting in New Delhi from November 26-28 to discuss military and technical cooperation, reinforcing the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad and Deputy Chief of FSMTC (Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation) Yashin Sergey Borisovich, according to the Ministry of Defence. Discussions focused on military-technical collaboration, integrated safety, and security of defence infrastructure.
In parallel, a four-member Russian Land Forces delegation visited Indian Army formations to share expertise and strengthen bilateral defence ties. The Army said the visit emphasized knowledge exchange in integrated safety and security of defence infrastructure, reflecting the enduring spirit of defence cooperation and innovation.
The panel meeting and delegation visit come ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to India on December 4-5, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the visit, Putin will attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, hold bilateral talks with PM Modi, and be hosted at a state banquet by the President of India.
The visit will provide an opportunity to review progress in bilateral relations, strengthen the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” and exchange views on regional and global issues. This will mark Putin’s first visit to India since 2021; the two leaders last met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025.
The Kremlin described the upcoming visit as highly significant, allowing discussions across political, trade, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, and humanitarian domains. Preparations for the annual summit are already underway, with both nations aiming to deepen bilateral ties further.
India and Russia first signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership in 2000, with the relationship elevated to a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” in 2010, establishing a framework for annual summits and extensive cooperation across multiple sectors.
