Overview

• He will co-chair the 26th IRIGC-TEC on August 20, meet Sergey Lavrov, and address the India-Russia Business Forum.
• Running August 19–21, the visit follows NSA Ajit Doval’s Moscow consultations on energy and defence and is viewed as groundwork for a possible Putin trip to India later this year.
• The Ministry of External Affairs says the goal is to strengthen the longstanding “special and privileged” India-Russia strategic partnership.
• The trip follows President Donald Trump doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50% and imposing a 25% penalty tied to purchases of Russian crude, a move New Delhi called “unjustified and unreasonable.”
• Energy is expected to dominate, with reports noting Russian oil now accounts for nearly 42% of India’s imports and that New Delhi is seeking improved pricing.