It’s a visual that feels almost jarring in the current climate. A high-altitude camera pans over a tarmac, and there it is: a thick, plush crimson runner stretching from the steps of a Russian Ilyushin-96 to a line of waiting dignitaries. Whether it’s in Pyongyang, Hanoi, Ulaanbaatar, or more recently, New Delhi and Anchorage, the red carpet for Putin has become a lightning rod for global debate.
Honestly, it’s about more than just expensive fabric. It’s a signal.
When a host country rolls out that carpet, they aren’t just following a boring protocol manual. They’re making a loud, high-definition statement to the West. They’re saying that despite the sanctions, the ICC warrants, and the diplomatic freezing out from the G7, Vladimir Putin is still a man who commands the full “State Visit” treatment.
The Optics of Legitimacy
Diplomacy is basically a performance.
If you look at the 2024 and 2025 tours, you’ll notice a pattern. In June 2024, North Korea didn't just give Putin a red carpet; they gave him a city-wide festival. Huge portraits of his face lined the streets of Pyongyang. Kim Jong Un met him at the airport—a move that’s pretty rare for him—and they shared a ride in a limousine where they both looked like they were having the time of their lives.
Then came Vietnam. Hanoi didn't go as wild as North Korea, but the red carpet was there, and so was the full military guard of honor. For Vietnam, it was "bamboo diplomacy" in action. They wanted to show they could be friends with Washington and Moscow at the same time without breaking a sweat.
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The Mongolia Controversy
The real shocker for many was Mongolia in September 2024. Because Mongolia is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), they were technically supposed to arrest him the moment he stepped off the plane.
Instead? They gave him a red carpet.
The images of Putin standing on that carpet in Ulaanbaatar, flanked by Mongolian guards in traditional attire, sent a clear message to the Hague: "Your warrants don't mean much here." It was a massive win for the Kremlin’s PR machine, which spent weeks looping those clips to prove Russia isn't isolated.
The 2025 Shifts: India and the US
Fast forward to late 2025, and the stakes got even higher.
In December 2025, Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet for Putin in New Delhi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. This wasn't just a quick hello. It was a two-day spectacle. We saw the warm hug at the airport, the private dinner, and the full ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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India’s logic? Strategic autonomy. They need Russian oil, they need Russian spare parts for their military, and they aren't going to let Western pressure dictate who they invite to dinner.
The Alaska Surprise
Perhaps the most surreal moment in recent history was the August 2025 summit in Anchorage, Alaska. Seeing US Air Force F-22s escorting Putin’s plane and then watching him walk a red carpet on an American military base was... a lot to take in.
Critics called it "red carpet diplomacy" at its most dangerous. To the Biden-era diplomats, it felt like a betrayal of the international order. To the Trump administration, it was "personal diplomacy" aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Regardless of where you stand, the image of Putin laughing in a US presidential limo while standing on American soil was a symbolic victory he couldn't have bought with all the oil in Siberia.
Why the Carpet Actually Matters
You might think, "It’s just a rug, who cares?"
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But in the world of high-level politics, the red carpet is a "legitimacy multiplier." When a leader is under an arrest warrant, every handshake on a red carpet is a blow to the institutions trying to prosecute them.
- For the Host: It shows they are an independent player.
- For Putin: It’s proof for his domestic audience that he is a respected global statesman.
- For the West: It’s a constant reminder that the "Global South" (and sometimes the "Global North") doesn't see the world in black and white.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that a red carpet welcome means the host country supports the war in Ukraine. That's usually not it.
Take India. They’ve consistently called for peace. But they also have 1.4 billion people to feed and fuel. For them, the red carpet for Putin is a business transaction wrapped in a ceremony. It's about S-400 missile systems, nuclear energy cooperation, and ensuring that Russia doesn't lean too hard into an alliance with China.
It's complicated. It's messy. And it's definitely not as simple as "good guys vs. bad guys."
Actionable Insights: How to Read the Signs
Next time you see a news clip of a world leader landing in a foreign capital, don't just look at who is talking. Look at the ground.
- Check the Rank of the Greeter: If the President or Prime Minister is at the airport tarmac (like Kim or Modi were), it’s a "Special" level of friendship. If it's just a junior minister, the carpet is just a polite formality.
- Watch the Military Honors: A full guard of honor (with a red carpet) means the host is acknowledging the visitor as a peer with full sovereign legitimacy.
- Notice the Flags: Are they everywhere, or just at the palace? The "density" of symbolism tells you how much the host is trying to impress the visitor's domestic audience back home.
If you're following international relations, keep an eye on the upcoming summits in 2026. The next time you see a red carpet for Putin, remember: you aren't just looking at a welcome. You're looking at a carefully choreographed move in a global chess game that is far from over.