The official limousines used by heads of state on the diplomatic stage are not just means of transportation. They are 'moving symbols' that showcase national identity and technological prowess, and at times they serve as 'mobile offices' where more intimate conversations occur than in meeting rooms. Leaders from the world's strongest nations, such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, each showcase their domestically produced armored limousines, engaging in an invisible 'limousine war.' In particular, who the passengers are has become an important diplomatic cipher that can help read international political trends.
On 4th, in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. After the dinner of the Eurasian summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin guided North Korean Chairperson Kim Jong-un to his private limousine. It was the 'Aurus Senat,' a sturdy black vehicle with a gleaming chrome grill. President Putin smiled brightly and invited Chairperson Kim to the back seat. The two leaders sat side by side and headed to the state guesthouse. After a brief silence, the two closed the door and began a private conversation in the car. This scene was broadcast live to the world through Russian state television. The Kremlin stated that the two leaders had a "very important and meaningful conversation" inside the car about developing bilateral relations.
This is not the first time President Putin has engaged in 'limousine diplomacy.' Two days earlier, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Tianjin, he took Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the same car. While other leaders were waiting, the two held a private meeting in the car for 45 minutes. President Putin also displayed closeness in 2018 with the Egyptian president and last year with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leader.
Aurus is Russia's first luxury car brand developed under President Putin's orders since 2013. It was created to replace the Mercedes used by Russian leaders after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its nickname is 'the Russian Rolls-Royce.' Like its name, it symbolizes technological independence and the revival of a powerful Russia. President Putin even gifted this car to Chairperson Kim Jong-un last year. Although it falls under 'luxury goods export' prohibited by U.N. sanctions, it was a blatant move to demonstrate his intention to establish a strategic partnership with North Korea, ignoring the sanctions.
President Xi Jinping's official car, 'Hongqi,' is China's very pride. Hongqi means 'red flag' and symbolizes the Chinese Communist Party. In 1956, then-Chairman Mao Zedong instructed to 'create our official car,' leading to development by the state-owned First Automobile Works (FAW). Although it was somewhat neglected for a while due to fuel efficiency issues, it made a glamorous comeback during Xi's rule.
In the past, Chinese leaders typically used vehicles provided by the host country during overseas visits. However, President Xi has been personally bringing in the Hongqi N701 model since his visit to Papua New Guinea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2018. Professor Su Hao of the China Foreign Affairs University noted, "While other national presidents use their official cars for security, Chairman Xi using the Hongqi aims to promote the Chinese brand on the international stage." During this SCO summit, President Xi provided the domestically produced 'Hongqi L5' as the official car for visiting heads of state.
The U.S. presidential limousine, 'Cadillac One,' is more famously known by its nickname 'The Beast.' This vehicle, built by General Motors (GM) on a truck chassis, is not just a simple limousine but a 'moving fortress.' Weighing 9 tons and measuring 5.5 meters in length, it can withstand rocket and chemical weapon attacks.
President Trump also enjoys utilizing 'The Beast' for unconventional diplomacy. Last month, during the U.S.-Russia summit held in Alaska, he offered to take President Putin in the Beast to the meeting. Although Putin's official car, the Aurus, was waiting on the runway, he accepted Trump's invitation. This marks the first time a leader of a rival nation has ridden in the Beast. Previously, President Trump had also proposed riding with Chairperson Kim during the 2018 U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore, but it fell through due to security issues.
Conversations held in limousines are key diplomatic acts that can complement or sometimes surpass official meetings. In a summit meeting, dozens of aides in diplomatic and security fields, including the heads of state from both countries, are present. All remarks are recorded and are confined to the official agenda.
In contrast, the interior of the limousine is a secret space occupied only by the two leaders, with an interpreter present if necessary. They can skip complex diplomatic protocols like seating orders or speaking sequences and go straight to the main topic. There are no set agendas like in public meetings. The empathy, tone, and informal gestures exchanged between the two leaders become the messages. Many issues that remain unresolved in formal conference settings find their breakthroughs in casual conversations.
Intense conversations between the two decision-makers can lead to concrete agreements as well. On 4th, President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly had a 45-minute private meeting in the Aurus Senat, after which they broadly agreed to continue energy and military technology cooperation between India and Russia amid U.S. sanctions against Russia. Russian state media assessed that "President Putin capitalized on the 'home-ground advantage' to elicit India's cooperation on sensitive issues." Although the venue was in China, it implied that being in the Aurus had the same effect as being on Russian soil.
The current affairs weekly magazine Time stated, "U.S. President Nixon and Soviet Chairman Brezhnev paved the way for relations through 'in-car diplomacy' during the Camp David and Washington summits in 1972 and 1973," noting that "the act of sitting together in a vehicle itself serves as a diplomatic signal of inclusion."