What Did Putin Tell Modi Inside His Aurus Limousine Car? Russian President Reveals

During the Tianjin Summit, Putin and Modi conversed about US talks while travelling in a car, highlighting challenges in India-US trade relations. Their discussions may have significant implications for global diplomacy amid ongoing tensions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spilled the beans on the conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside his Aurus Limousine car in China.

As per the Russian news agency TASS, Putin and Modi had a conversation about the US talks while riding in the Russian President's car. This revelation came during a press conference in China, where Putin mentioned, "This is no secret, I told him what we talked about in Alaska."

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit was held in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1. It saw participation from over 20 leaders, including Putin and heads of ten international organizations. After the summit, Putin and Modi continued their discussion in the Aurus car on their way to Russian-Indian talks.

Putin's Insights on US Talks

During their ride, which lasted 50 minutes, the two leaders discussed various topics before joining their delegations at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. PM Modi later tweeted about this unique experience: "After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful," he wrote on X.

The backdrop to these discussions was a significant downturn in India-US trade relations. The United States imposed hefty tariffs on Indian exports due to India's ongoing purchase of Russian crude oil. Washington's penalties included a 25% tariff on exports and an additional 25% surcharge.

Alaska Meeting with Trump

Putin also linked his conversation with Modi to his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska. During this meeting, Trump invited Putin for a short ride in his armoured limousine known as "the Beast." Reflecting on this encounter, Putin said, "Of course we spoke English. Broken English. I had very limited talks with President Trump as the ride took some 30 seconds."

The Alaska meeting was considered crucial for efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Although no ceasefire was reached, Putin claimed that he and Trump had achieved certain 'understandings' regarding future actions.

Implications for Global Diplomacy

By connecting PM Modi to these discussions, Putin has left many speculating about what transpired inside that limousine in Tianjin. The implications of these conversations could influence future diplomatic efforts amid ongoing tensions between India and the United States over trade issues and the Ukraine conflict.

With inputs from agencies.