Russian President Vladimir Putin extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, as Modi turned 76, highlighting his contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Russia. The message came shortly after Putin’s visit to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit.
In his message, Putin said Modi enjoys deep respect among Indians and holds significant authority on the global stage. He also credited the Indian Prime Minister with an important contribution to strengthening what Russia describes as the “special and privileged” strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Russian President also expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and the Russian delegation during their recent visit to New Delhi. Putin said his discussions with Modi were substantive, frank and productive, adding that the two sides would continue constructive cooperation on important bilateral and international issues.
The Russian Embassy in India shared the birthday message on social media with the hashtag #DruzhbaDosti. “Druzhba” is the Russian word for friendship, while “Dosti” is the Hindi word for friendship. The expression has been used to highlight the longstanding relationship and continued cooperation between India and Russia.
Putin’s message followed his September 12–13 visit to India for the BRICS Summit. During the visit, he met Modi in New Delhi for discussions covering bilateral cooperation and international issues. The two leaders also travelled together to an INNOPROM exhibition following their meeting.
The birthday message therefore comes at a time when New Delhi and Moscow are continuing discussions on trade, energy, technology and other areas of bilateral cooperation. Putin’s statement reaffirmed Russia’s intention to maintain engagement with India on both bilateral and international matters.
