Modi’s Fortuner Ride with Putin: India’s Independent Foreign Policy

The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was marked by a striking protocol break as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present on the tarmac to personally receive him. This gesture immediately set the tone for the high-stakes engagement. In a move mirroring Putin’s hospitality during Modi’s visit to Russia, the Indian Prime Minister drove President Putin in his personal Toyota Fortuner to the PM’s residence. This shared ride in a common Indian vehicle sent a clear message to Western nations and Pakistan about the strength of the India-Russia partnership, built on mutual trust and strategic calculations. The decision for Putin to forgo his extensively secured limousine for the more modest Fortuner underscored Moscow’s profound faith in India’s security capabilities. This act of confidence, especially in the wake of a recent bomb blast in Delhi, projected an image of India as a secure and sovereign nation, capable of ensuring the safety of world leaders. The visual of the two leaders in the practical SUV symbolized India’s independent foreign policy – a nation that collaborates strategically but remains firmly in control of its own destiny and national interests.