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New Delhi: It was a rare gesture when Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russian President Vladimir Putin at Delhi airport upon his arrival here on Thursday evening. Prime Minister Modi's gesture not only spoke volumes about a cordial personal bond between the two leaders but also conveyed a strong geopolitical message, mainly in the backdrop of the US' tariff "penalty" on India for trade ties with Russia. Putin's two-day visit to India will focus on bolstering strategic ties with New Delhi in defence and energy, among other areas.
As the Russian President arrived in India, PM Modi greeted him with a warm hug at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport, signalling the importance New Delhi places on its ties with Moscow. Putin is among the few global leaders whom the Prime Minister has welcomed upon their arrival at the airport. Over the last 11 years, only six world leaders have been lucky enough to have received PM Modi's rare airport reception.
Here are some global leaders who were personally received by PM Modi
Barack Obama
PM Modi had welcomed former US President Barack Obama at Delhi's Palam Air Force base in 2015 when he arrived in India on a three-day visit as the chief guest of Republic Day.
Sheikh Hasina
In April 2017, then Bangladesh Prime MInister Sheikh Hasina was also accorded a warm welcome by Prime Minister Modi at Delhi airport. Hasina was in India after seven years.
Shinzo Abe
PM Modi made another airport visit the same year when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport. Abe had come to India for the India-Japan annual summit. He had also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the first bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
Donald Trump
The close bond between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump is no secret. So, when Trump arrived in India in 2020, PM Modi reached the airport in Ahmedabad to welcome him. During the visit, Trump and PM Modi reaffirmed their strong bond by holding a rally at Motera stadium - now Narendra Modi stadium. Over 1,00,000 people took part in the grand event.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan
PM Modi also received UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan at airport in 2024. He had arrived in India to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani
This year, Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani was accorded a warm welcome by Prime Minister Modi at the Delhi airport.
