New Delhi: In a striking display of camaraderie, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin at Palam Airport on Thursday, breaking protocol to personally receive him.
The duo then drove together in a white Toyota Fortuner, a Japanese-made SUV, to the Prime Minister’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner, symbolising the deep India-Russia bond.
This gesture, reminiscent of their car ride at the SCO Summit in Tianjin in September 2025, sparked curiosity about the choice of a Japanese vehicle and its diplomatic undertones.
Russia and Japan share a complex relationship, strained by historical territorial disputes over the Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. The 1956 Soviet-Japanese declaration ended World War II hostilities but left the island issue unresolved, preventing a formal peace treaty. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine further soured ties, prompting Japan to impose sanctions and Russia to halt peace talks. Japan’s G7 membership and alignment with Western policies contrast with Russia’s pivot to China, yet economic ties, including Japan’s limited energy imports from Russia, persist despite geopolitical tensions.
The Fortuner ride, a departure from the usual Mercedes or BMW for foreign dignitaries, underscored India’s neutral stance, balancing ties with both nations. Modi’s warm reception and the upcoming 23rd India-Russia Summit, expected to yield 10 agreements, highlight India’s strategic diplomacy amid global fault lines.
The image of Modi and Putin in a Japanese car encapsulates India’s deft navigation of complex international relations.