Snipers, drones, AI...: Tight security for Putin

DELHI ON HIGH ALERT PM TO HOST PRIVATE DINNER

- MPOST BUREAU

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a private dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, hours after he lands in New Delhi with a broader goal to shore up bilateral strategic and economic partnership, against the backdrop of a sharp downturn in India’s relations with the US.

Boosting defence ties, insulating bilateral trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit talks between Modi and Putin on Friday that are expected to be closely watched by Western capitals.

The Russian president is likely to arrive in the Capital at around 4:30 pm on Thursday, and hours later, Modi will host him for a private dinner in reciprocation of a similar gesture extended to him by the Russian leader during his visit to Moscow in July last year.

On Friday, Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome and PM Modi will also host a working lunch for the Russian leader and his delegation at Hyderabad House, the venue for the summit. Putin is also scheduled to visit Rajghat on Friday morning.

After the summit, Putin is set to launch the new India channel of Russian state-run broadcaster RT, following which he will attend a state banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu.

The Russian leader is expected to leave India at around 9:30 pm on Friday, wrapping up his nearly 28-hour visit.

In the summit talks, New Delhi is expected to press for addressing the increasing trade deficit caused by India's procurement of large volumes of Russian crude oil.