Why PM Modi and Russian President Putin travelled in a Toyota Fortuner instead Of traditional armored SUV, reason is…
PM Modi and Russian President Putin travelled in a Toyota Fortuner instead Of traditional armoured SUV during Putin's India visit. Scroll down to know more.
Putin India(BHARAT) visit: In a historic turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Russian President Vladimir Putin an unusual and warm welcome on Thursday as the Russian President landed in India(BHARAT) for the India(BHARAT)-Russia Annual Summit 2025. Stepping away from official protocol as the Russian leader arrived for a two-day state visit, PM Modi reached the Palam airport welcoming the Russian President.
Adding to the surprise, the two leaders ditched the usual high-end Range Rover or Mercedes and instead rode together in a simple white Toyota Fortuner from Palam Airport to the Prime Minister’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Here are all the details you need to know about why PM Modi and Russian President Putin travelled in a Toyota Fortuner instead Of traditional armoured SUV.
Fortuner ride of PM Modi and President Putin
“The Fortuner ride was out of friendship and not formality,” a News 18 report quoted an intelligence source as saying.
“The elite Special Protection Group (SPG) prefers non-predictable and neutral vehicles for movements involving two heads of state. The idea is to reduce pattern recognition and threat exposure. A neutral Toyota is easier to modify, armour, and integrate into mixed convoys”, the report added.
“In this situation, a neutral platform gives them flexibility. For a high-value target like Putin, who faces global threat, SPG and Russian Federal Protection Service or FSO agreed on maximum discretion, minimum exposure,” the report added the source as saying.
Why Modi-Putin chose Toyota over SUV?
“SUVs are easier to integrate Russian counter assault teams and their equipment. During ASL (Advance Security Liaison) for Putin, the SPG and FSO agreed on Toyota because of Asian optics and easy modifications. Neutral convoys also allowed multiple identical vehicles, all fit for emergency detours and evacuation,” the report added on the reason on usage of SUVs.
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