Overview
- External affairs minister S. Jaishankar met Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on November 17 to review preparations for the 23rd Annual India–Russia Summit, saying multiple agreements and projects are nearing finalisation.
- Lavrov indicated the summit will be held in New Delhi in about three weeks, with reports placing President Vladimir Putin’s visit around December 5.
- Both sides discussed practical steps to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, finance, defence and logistics, and reaffirmed coordination within the UN, SCO, BRICS and the G20.
- In New Delhi, Putin’s aide Nikolay Patrushev met NSA Ajit Doval and India’s maritime security chief to advance civilian maritime cooperation, including shipbuilding, port infrastructure, logistics, crew training and ocean research; Indian reports say shipbuilding and repair clusters in Mumbai or Chennai are being explored.
- Media accounts cite defence items under negotiation such as S-400 resupply and missile and fighter-related agreements, though officials have not confirmed any specific deals ahead of the summit.