The SCO summit, taking place in Tianjin from 31 August to 3 September, will also see Putin engage leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A potential meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong‑Un is also on the table during this visit.
This developing India‑Russia summit comes at a time when New Delhi faces steep U. S. tariffs—totaling 50%—imposed in response to its extensive purchases of Russian oil. Moscow’s revenues from energy exports have been bolstered by redirecting supplies to buyers like India and China amid Western sanctions tied to the Ukraine conflict.
On 8 August, Prime Minister Modi held a phone call with Putin during which he extended an invitation for the Annual India‑Russia Summit in New Delhi later this year. The leaders reaffirmed their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” and discussed the Ukraine situation. That dialogue follows a security meeting in Moscow between India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Russia’s Sergei Shoigu, cementing high‑level engagement between the two countries.
An earlier statement from India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in early August clarified that the visit would take place at the end of 2025, correcting previous reports suggesting a trip in late August.
For decades, the India‑Russia relationship has been anchored in energy and defence cooperation. Since 2022, India's imports of Russian oil and fertilisers have surged, doubling bilateral trade and positioning India among Russia’s top trade partners. In 2023, the two governments declared their trade levels at “all‑time high” and pursued broader economic collaboration.
Against this backdrop, India’s diplomatic tour to Japan and China in late August—including Modi’s first visit to China in seven years—signals a broader recalibration of its foreign policy. With U. S. trade friction intensifying, New Delhi is seeking to deepen ties with both Moscow and Beijing while diversifying strategic partnerships with key allies like Japan.