India, Russia Seek Closer Ties After Modi-Putin Talks

According to Nikkei Asia, India said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to further strengthen their countries' special relationship in talks that covered energy and defense. The foreign ministry said the two leaders also discussed the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have affected maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers, and Modi reiterated that disputes should be settled through dialogue and diplomacy. The meeting was their second in two weeks and came on the eve of the annual BRICS summit in New Delhi. India and Russia said they want bilateral trade to reach $100 billion by 2030 from nearly $70 billion in 2024-25. Modi also presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, and the two leaders visited an India-Russia industrial fair featuring Russian technology, artificial intelligence, aviation, space, nuclear science, heavy engineering, mining and banking companies.