New Delhi, December 6 — India and Russia expanded their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” and agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, nuclear energy, defence, science and technology, and other areas, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a joint statement following the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nuclear energy
The leaders agreed to continue talks to designate a second Indian site for a Russian-built nuclear power plant and reiterated Russia’s commitment to fully operationalise the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu. Two of KKNPP’s six reactors are already online. The statement said India will work to finalise formal allotment of the second site under earlier agreements. Both countries committed to broaden cooperation across the nuclear fuel cycle, life-cycle support for KKNPP, non-power applications, development of large-capacity Russian VVER reactors, and localisation and co-manufacturing of nuclear equipment and fuel assemblies. They also agreed to accelerate technical and commercial discussions on VVER projects, joint R&D for NPPs, and other peaceful atomic-energy technologies, noting India’s plan to raise nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047.
Space
The joint statement welcomed strengthened collaboration between ISRO and Roscosmos in peaceful space activities, including human spaceflight, satellite navigation, planetary exploration, and joint work on rocket engine development, production and utilisation.
Fertilisers and energy supplies
Both sides supported measures to secure long-term fertiliser supplies to India and explored potential joint ventures. An MoU was signed between JSC UralChem and Indian companies Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited, National Fertilisers Limited, and Indian Potash Limited to that end.
Transport corridors and Arctic cooperation
To improve logistics and connectivity, India and Russia signed an MoU on training specialists for ships operating in polar waters and agreed to expand links supporting the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the Chennai–Vladivostok (Eastern Maritime) Corridor, and the Northern Sea Route. They committed to intensify trade and investment ties in Russia’s Far East and Arctic regions under a Program of Cooperation in Trade, Economic and Investment spheres for 2024–2029, covering agriculture, energy, mining, manpower, diamonds, pharmaceuticals and maritime transport. Both sides underlined the need for regular bilateral consultations on Arctic matters, welcomed progress on the Northern Sea Route, and noted India’s participation in the 6th International Arctic Forum in Murmansk in March 2025. India also expressed readiness to play an active Observer role in the Arctic Council.
Defence and military-technical cooperation
The partners agreed to promote joint manufacture in India of spare parts, components and assemblies for Russian-origin defence equipment under the Make-in-India framework, supported by technology transfer and joint ventures to meet the needs of the Indian Armed Forces and for exports to friendly third countries. They expressed satisfaction with ongoing military contacts, including the Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao in June 2025, and praised the INDRA joint exercises, committing to sustain and expand military cooperation and delegation exchanges.
Finance and payments
Russia and India agreed to continue developing bilateral settlement mechanisms using national currencies to ensure uninterrupted trade. They will keep consulting on interoperability between national payment systems, financial messaging systems, and central bank digital currency platforms.
Russian President Putin concluded his two-day visit to Delhi on Friday night.
