India, Dec. 4 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening the nearly eight-decade-old India-Russia partnership, even as global geopolitics undergoes sharp realignments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting a private dinner for the Russian leader tonight ahead of the 23rd India-Russia summit on Friday. Defence cooperation, safeguarding bilateral trade from external pressures, and discussions on collaboration in small modular nuclear reactors are expected to dominate the talks-closely watched by Western capitals.

Putin's 27-hour visit carries added significance amid the current strain in India-US ties. Both sides are expected to sign a series of agreements on F...