Ahead of Putin’s Visit, Russia Offers Major Partnership in Shipbuilding and Port Infrastructure

New Delhi: Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India, Moscow has extended a significant proposal to deepen maritime cooperation with New Delhi. The offer includes collaboration in advanced shipbuilding, port infrastructure development, and broader maritime capabilities across the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region. The proposal was formally conveyed by Nikolai Patrushev, former Russian National Security Advisor and a close confidant of President Putin, during his meeting with India’s Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.

Focus on Expanding Maritime Partnership

According to an Economic Times report, Monday’s discussions between Patrushev and Sonowal explored new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the civil maritime sector. Key areas included joint shipbuilding projects, port infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced collaboration in maritime logistics.

Russia Offers Support in Building New-Generation Vessels

Russia has proposed assistance in designing and building fishing vessels, passenger ships, and other auxiliary maritime platforms, based on both existing and new designs. The aim is to strengthen maritime interoperability and expand partnership across the entire Indo-Pacific, including the Indian Ocean.

Sources familiar with the meeting said that special emphasis was placed on training Indian maritime crew, deep-sea operations, and strengthening overall ocean-going capacities.

Expertise in Ice-Class and Icebreaker Ships

During the discussions, Patrushev highlighted Russia’s unmatched expertise in specialized shipbuilding, particularly in constructing ice-class and icebreaker vessels—a sector where Russia remains a global leader.

“We can offer India exciting initiatives in ship construction, including the development of new designs for fishing, passenger, and auxiliary vessels,” he said. He added that opportunities also exist in green shipbuilding, one of India’s top maritime priorities.

Key Agenda for India–Russia Annual Summit

The maritime cooperation push is expected to feature prominently in the India–Russia Annual Summit scheduled for early next month. India, meanwhile, is seeking to develop ships and tankers that can operate securely despite international sanctions pressure, making Russia’s offer strategically significant.