What to Expect from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's Upcoming Visit to Russia's Victory Day Celebrations?
Rajnath Singh Set to Attend Russia's Victory Day Festivities
According to reports from Russian media, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is anticipated to participate in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow next month.
The state-run news agency Tass has indicated that Singh's attendance at the parade is a possibility, based on information from Indian government sources.
Previously, it was reported that India had received an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Victory Day events in Moscow, with confirmation of his attendance expected at a later date.
The festivities at Red Square will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Russia's triumph in the Great Patriotic War.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko mentioned that Moscow is hopeful for Modi's presence at the May 9 parade, and arrangements are currently being finalized.
Additionally, there are discussions regarding the participation of a ceremonial unit from the Indian armed forces in the parade.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that numerous countries have confirmed their attendance for the May 9 events, with invitations extended to various foreign leaders beyond just those from the CIS.
In May 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously invited Prime Minister Modi to join the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow.
Recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted the dynamic political dialogue between India and Russia, emphasizing their shared perspectives on the emerging multipolar world order.
Lavrov remarked on the historical ties between the two nations, stating that their cooperation is built on mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests.
He also mentioned that preparations are underway for President Putin's forthcoming visit to India, which is expected to occur in early 2025 following an invitation from Modi.
This visit is part of the ongoing commitment to annual meetings between the two leaders, as confirmed by Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.
The last time President Putin visited India was on December 6, 2021, during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi.
In the previous year, PM Modi made two significant visits to Russia, attending the 22nd Russia-India Summit in July and participating in the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October.