INDIA's defence minister Rajnath Singh is expected to represent the country at Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9 as prime minister Narendra Modi will not attend the Moscow event, reports said on Thursday (10).
India's foreign ministry said on Wednesday (9) said that Modi has been invited to attend the event which marks the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II.
"Our prime minister has received an invitation for participation in the Victory Day celebrations," foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi. "We will be announcing our participation in victory day celebrations at the appropriate time."
Later, Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko confirmed the invitation to state-run news agency Tass.
This year's Victory Day celebrations hold particular significance as Russia has promised to stage its "biggest World War II commemorations in history" to mark eight decades since the Soviet Union and allied powers defeated Nazi Germany.
The annual May 9 event traditionally features an extensive military parade through Moscow's Red Square, culminating in an address by president Vladimir Putin.
Singh's expected participation comes after his previous visit to Russia in December last year, when he attended the commissioning of INS Tushil in Kaliningrad. During that trip, he also paid tribute at the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' in Moscow, honouring Soviet soldiers who perished during World War II.
Modi last travelled to Moscow last July for the 22nd India-Russia summit—his first visit to Russia in nearly five years. He subsequently visited Kazan in October to attend the BRICS summit, during which he extended an invitation to Putin to visit India.
Despite Western pressure following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, India has maintained its historically close relationship with Moscow.
Russia remains a critical supplier of military hardware to India and has increasingly become an important energy provider as New Delhi seeks affordable imports to support its economic growth.
(Agencies)
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL (L) with Rosella Miccio. (Photo: Davide Preti)
