India Russia Ties / ‘Just Friends in One Car’: Putin on SCO Ride as PM Modi Breaks Protocol Again
·4 months ago·3 min read
Key Points
- Putin said his viral Tianjin car ride with PM Modi was spontaneous, calling it a friendly, unplanned moment.
- PM Modi again broke protocol in New Delhi, personally driving Putin in a white Toyota Fortuner instead of using official motorcades.
- Putin highlighted the significance of their personal chemistry in maintaining stability amid shifting global geopolitics.
New Delhi, Dec 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin said his viral car ride with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was completely spontaneous, and echoed that sentiment on Thursday when the two leaders once again shared a non-standard vehicle in New Delhi.
Speaking to India Today and Aaj Tak, Putin explained the Tianjin incident in his own words: “Well, it was not pre-planned. We just went outside into the street and my car was there. So I suggested we should get together just as friends, without any complicated orchestrations. We got together in one car, and we spoke along the road, as there is always something to talk about.”
On Thursday, Modi broke protocol by leaving aside his official Range Rover and personally driving with Putin in a white Toyota Fortuner from Palam Airport to his residence. The Russian President also stepped away from his usual security practice of travelling in the highly armoured Aurus Senat limousine — the centrepiece of his protection detail abroad.
The Fortuner, a Sigma 4 MT (MH01EN5795), immediately drew public attention once its registration details surfaced online, but the symbolism of the ride overshadowed the vehicle itself. Such a joint journey in a non-standard car is rare for two heads of government who typically travel in multilayered, tightly controlled motorcades. The choice again spotlighted the personal chemistry both leaders publicly acknowledge.
Putin used the interview to underline why such moments matter in a shifting global context. “The world is changing rapidly. New poles of power are appearing, and the configuration of forces is shifting,” he said. “Amid these situations, it is very important to ensure stability between great nations. This stability works as a foundation for development both bilaterally and globally.”
He added, “What we are doing together with Prime Minister Modi goes beyond our bilateral relations. This stability is a guarantee that we will achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.”
Modi personally received Putin on the tarmac before the two leaders entered the Fortuner and drove to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, which had been decorated with India–Russia flags for the visit. The drive marked the first leg of Putin’s two-day India visit, during which high-level talks on defence, trade, and technology are planned. Security restrictions and controlled movement were imposed across parts of Delhi for the delegation.
Putin also praised Modi’s leadership during the interaction. “He is deeply committed to strengthening ties across economic cooperation, defence, humanitarian engagement, and high-technology development,” he said, calling the Prime Minister “a person of integrity.”
The Russian leader recalled his earlier meeting with Modi in Moscow: “He travelled here, and we sat together at my residence. We drank tea the whole evening and discussed a range of topics… purely like humans.”
Also Read: Putin Calls Modi 'A Leader Who Lives and Breathes India'
The Tianjin car ride and Thursday’s Fortuner drive, placed months apart, underscored a personal rapport that continues to shape a long-standing India–Russia partnership even amid turbulent global geopolitics.
Speaking to India Today and Aaj Tak, Putin explained the Tianjin incident in his own words: “Well, it was not pre-planned. We just went outside into the street and my car was there. So I suggested we should get together just as friends, without any complicated orchestrations. We got together in one car, and we spoke along the road, as there is always something to talk about.”
On Thursday, Modi broke protocol by leaving aside his official Range Rover and personally driving with Putin in a white Toyota Fortuner from Palam Airport to his residence. The Russian President also stepped away from his usual security practice of travelling in the highly armoured Aurus Senat limousine — the centrepiece of his protection detail abroad.
The Fortuner, a Sigma 4 MT (MH01EN5795), immediately drew public attention once its registration details surfaced online, but the symbolism of the ride overshadowed the vehicle itself. Such a joint journey in a non-standard car is rare for two heads of government who typically travel in multilayered, tightly controlled motorcades. The choice again spotlighted the personal chemistry both leaders publicly acknowledge.
Putin used the interview to underline why such moments matter in a shifting global context. “The world is changing rapidly. New poles of power are appearing, and the configuration of forces is shifting,” he said. “Amid these situations, it is very important to ensure stability between great nations. This stability works as a foundation for development both bilaterally and globally.”
He added, “What we are doing together with Prime Minister Modi goes beyond our bilateral relations. This stability is a guarantee that we will achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.”
Modi personally received Putin on the tarmac before the two leaders entered the Fortuner and drove to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, which had been decorated with India–Russia flags for the visit. The drive marked the first leg of Putin’s two-day India visit, during which high-level talks on defence, trade, and technology are planned. Security restrictions and controlled movement were imposed across parts of Delhi for the delegation.
Putin also praised Modi’s leadership during the interaction. “He is deeply committed to strengthening ties across economic cooperation, defence, humanitarian engagement, and high-technology development,” he said, calling the Prime Minister “a person of integrity.”
The Russian leader recalled his earlier meeting with Modi in Moscow: “He travelled here, and we sat together at my residence. We drank tea the whole evening and discussed a range of topics… purely like humans.”
Also Read: Putin Calls Modi 'A Leader Who Lives and Breathes India'
The Tianjin car ride and Thursday’s Fortuner drive, placed months apart, underscored a personal rapport that continues to shape a long-standing India–Russia partnership even amid turbulent global geopolitics.
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