Global leaders and neighbours on Friday extended warm greetings to India on its 79th Independence Day, highlighting strong bonds and reaffirming commitments to deepen bilateral ties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his messages to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lauded India’s “well-deserved authority” in global affairs. He stressed Moscow’s commitment to further bolstering the “special privileged strategic partnership” with New Delhi. “We value our relations of special privileged strategic partnership with India,” Putin said, expressing confidence that joint efforts will continue to expand cooperation across multiple fronts.
French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated India while recalling PM Modi’s visit to France earlier this year. “Warm congratulations to the people of India on your 79th Independence Day! I fondly recall welcoming my friend Narendra Modi to France in February, and look forward to deepening our strategic partnership towards 2047 and beyond,” he wrote on social media.
Neighbouring Maldives also joined in, with President Mohamed Muizzu greeting President Murmu and underscoring India’s role as a trusted partner. “I deeply appreciate the increase in high-level exchanges and people-to-people contact between our countries, which underscores the strong cooperation we have built,” Muizzu wrote in his message.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hailed “dear friend” Narendra Modi and the people of India. “Israel and India are two proud democracies, bound by history, innovation, and friendship. Our nations have achieved much together and the best chapters of our partnership still lie ahead,” the Israeli PM’s Office posted online.
From Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended congratulations, noting that India and the United States, “working together,” will tackle modern challenges and secure a brighter future. He described the historic relationship between the two nations as both “consequential and far-reaching.”