India-Russia Annual Summit 2025

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, held in New Delhi on December 4-5, 2025, marked the 25th year of the India-Russia Strategic Partnership.

23rd India-Russia Annual Summit: Key Outcomes

Strong emphasis on “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” as a foreign policy priority for both.
Regular high-level exchanges, BRICS and SCO summits, Inter-Governmental Commissions, parliamentary and ministerial visits, NSA-level strategic dialogues.
Russia reiterated support for India’s permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council and for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Trade Target: Revised goal of USD 100 billion bilateral trade by 2030.
Programme 2030: Adoption of a Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of Economic Cooperation till 2030, covering trade, investments, high-tech, connectivity and minerals.
Push to fast-track FTA negotiations between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Outcomes of the 22nd India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) were welcomed.
Clear shift towards co-development and co-production of advanced defence systems in India.
Continued momentum in joint military exercises like INDRA.

Focus on multi-modal connectivity corridors, International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor & Northern Sea Route (Arctic shipping).
India to deepen engagement in the Russian Far East and Arctic in sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, manpower & pharmaceuticals.

Energy Partnership: Russia remains a major energy partner for India across oil and oil products, refining, petrochemicals, upstream services, LNG/LPG infrastructure and coal gasification.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation: Continued collaboration on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), construction of remaining units and long-term fuel and equipment supplies.
Discussion on allotment of a second nuclear power project site in India.

Strategic Alignment: The partnership rests on a shared commitment to a multipolar world order. Russia supports India’s bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Economic Relations: Bilateral trade reached USD 68.7 billion in FY 2024–25, driven primarily by discounted Russian crude imports.
Connectivity Corridors: Projects like the International North–South Transport Corridor and Chennai–Vladivostok maritime link enhance India’s logistical access to Central Asia and the Russian Far East.
Defence Cooperation: Russia remains India’s primary arms supplier. Both countries signed a 10-Year Defence Pact (2021-2031) and conduct the annual INDRA military exercise.
- Russia accounts for 36% of India’s total defence imports.
- Cooperation exists in the manufacture of BrahMos missiles system, AK-203 rifles, SU-30 aircraft and T-90 tanks.
Energy Partnership: Russia is India’s largest crude oil supplier; civil nuclear cooperation—particularly the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu remains a key area of collaboration.
Cultural Exchanges: Initiatives like ‘Namaste Russia’ promote educational collaboration between India and Russia, facilitated through institutes like Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre.