Moscow, August 8: India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russia’s Secretary of the Security Council Sergey Shoigu in Moscow on August 7, holding talks aimed at strengthening the “special and privileged” strategic partnership between the two countries, according to the Russian Embassy in India.
In a post on X, the embassy confirmed the meeting, noting that both sides discussed new ways to enhance bilateral ties across political, security, and economic fronts. Earlier the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin also received Doval at the Kremlin, underscoring the high-level nature of the visit.
Sources familiar with the talks said Doval conveyed that preparations are underway for President Putin’s upcoming visit to India, although the specific dates remain undecided. Reports suggesting an end-of-August visit were described as incorrect. “We have got a very special relationship, long relationship, and we highly value our strategic partnership,” Doval said in remarks shared by Sputnik News. He called the planned summit “a watershed point” in the bilateral relationship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last visited Russia in July 2024, where he and President Putin reaffirmed the “time-tested” nature of India-Russia ties—built on trust, mutual understanding, and strategic convergence. The joint statement from that meeting highlighted multi-sector cooperation, including defense, nuclear energy, space exploration, education, cultural exchanges, and trade. Both sides expressed satisfaction at exploring new areas of collaboration while consolidating traditional sectors of cooperation.
This week’s engagements come shortly after the 11th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Modernisation and Industrial Cooperation was held in New Delhi under the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation. The talks signal ongoing momentum in a relationship that remains central to India’s foreign policy and strategic security calculations.