Modi and Putin Share Ride to Nomad Games Opening in Bishkek

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled together to the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games in Bishkek on Friday, in what has become a familiar diplomatic gesture between the two leaders.

Modi shared a photograph from inside the vehicle on his Instagram handle, with the caption: "On the way to the World Nomad Games with President Putin." The ride follows a similar instance last year when the two shared Putin's Aurus limousine in Tianjin, China, while departing from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

The practice of sharing rides is not new for Modi, who has previously travelled with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai, and leaders in Jordan and Ethiopia. In Jordan, Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II drove Modi to the Jordan Museum, while Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received him at the airport and drove him to his hotel.

Before the ride, Modi and Putin held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Modi reiterated India's support for peaceful efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying the world must move from a situation of "endless war" to "end of war." He underscored his earlier message that this is not "an era of war."

Putin praised Modi for his "personal attention" to India-Russia relations. Modi also extended a formal invitation to Putin for the BRICS summit in New Delhi in September, saying the visit would further strengthen bilateral ties.