It was only after Vladimir Putin assumed office in May 2000 that the Indo-Russian relationship started looking up again. One of his first visits as Russian president was to New Delhi in October 2000, where he signed a security agreement which called for consultations between the two countries in case of a threat to the security of either and close co-operation in removing this threat.
A year later, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Russia and signed the Moscow Declaration on Combating International Terrorism. Steps to jointly produce fighter aircraft, tanks, missiles, and even submarines were negotiated.
India also agreed to buy a refurbished Russian aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorskhov, to replace the INS Vikrant.
Putin was back in Delhi again in June 2002, and once again in December 2004, to sign pacts to further consolidate the Strategic Partnership and step up cooperation on a host of other subjects, ranging from cultural ties to civil aviation, from terrorism to technology. The leadership of the two nations kept meeting at other international fora, like the annual WTO meetings and the United Nations General Assembly sessions, among others. The two countries were back in business.
Photograph: Russian Defence Minister and Vice Premier Sergei Ivanov attends a wreath laying ceremony of the Eternal Flame at India Gate in New Delhi, January 24, 2007. Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images
Also see: PM's Moscow visit: Low-key but solid
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