Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled together in the same car in Bishkek after their bilateral meeting, reviving the “car diplomacy” moment seen between the two leaders at the 2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin.
The two leaders were heading to the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games at Bishkek Arena when they were seen travelling together. Their shared ride came shortly after Modi and Putin held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Modi Putin Share Car Ride
The latest journey has drawn attention because of the personal symbolism attached to Modi and Putin’s previous shared rides.
The two leaders had travelled together during the SCO Summit in Tianjin last year. Putin also shared a car with Modi during his visit to India in December 2025.
The repeat appearance of the two leaders travelling together has been described as another instance of “car diplomacy”, highlighting the warm personal equation between the Indian and Russian leaders.
Ride Follows Bilateral Talks
The car journey followed a bilateral meeting between Modi and Putin at the Bishkek SCO Summit.
During the meeting, the Russian president praised Modi for his personal attention to India-Russia relations. The interaction was accompanied by visuals of the two leaders hugging and shaking hands.
The meeting comes at a time when India and Russia continue to maintain close diplomatic engagement despite major geopolitical changes.
Modi Calls For End To War
During his interaction with Putin, Modi stressed the importance of moving towards peace.
“We must move away from endless war towards an end to the war,” the prime minister told the Russian president.
The remarks came against the backdrop of the continuing Ukraine conflict, which remains an important issue in India's engagement with Russia and other major powers.
Putin Praises Modi’s Role
Putin expressed appreciation for Modi’s continued personal involvement in India-Russia relations.
“I’m very grateful to you for your personal attention to the Russia-India relationship,” Putin said during the meeting.
His comments underline the importance Moscow attaches to maintaining momentum in its bilateral relationship with New Delhi.
BRICS Summit Invitation
Modi also invited Putin to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September.
The prime minister said India was looking forward to welcoming the Russian president and expressed confidence that Putin’s visit would further strengthen India-Russia relations.
The invitation adds another important diplomatic engagement to the India-Russia calendar as the two countries continue their high-level exchanges.
Uzbekistan Adds Car Diplomacy
The Bishkek episode was not Modi’s only recent instance of travelling together with a foreign leader.
Before the SCO proceedings, Modi was also seen travelling by car with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev after arriving in Tashkent. The two leaders travelled together from the airport to the presidential palace before holding a dinner meeting.
The gesture was also described as “car diplomacy”, adding to a series of informal visual moments surrounding Modi’s engagements with regional leaders.
A Symbol Of Close Ties
The repeated shared rides involving Modi and Putin have acquired diplomatic symbolism beyond the short journeys themselves.
While a joint car ride does not constitute a formal policy decision, such informal interactions can provide a visible indication of the personal rapport between leaders.
The latest Bishkek journey therefore stands out as another memorable moment in Modi-Putin diplomacy, coming immediately after bilateral talks and ahead of a major international gathering.
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