As global pressures rise, India and Russia reinforce long-standing strategic ties
Both countries have signaled their intent to deepen what they officially call a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the talks will focus on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues, underscoring the resilience of a relationship that spans nearly eight decades.
- Putin’s visit highlights India’s message to both Washington and Beijing: its foreign policy is not a zero-sum game.
- India will pursue partnerships that serve its national interest — accommodating cooperation where beneficial, while resisting pressure to abandon long-standing allies like Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming two-day visit to New Delhi marks a significant moment for India as it continues to navigate a delicate geopolitical balancing act.
Invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the 23rd India–Russia annual summit, Putin is making his first trip to India since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Both countries have signaled their intent to deepen what they officially call a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the talks will focus on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues, underscoring the resilience of a relationship that spans nearly eight decades.
Ahead of the visit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized the need to safeguard Russia–India trade from external pressure as both nations face rising scrutiny from the West.
India is currently facing new US tariffs linked to its purchases of Russian oil, while Moscow continues to confront layered Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
The summit’s agenda is expected to include discussions on alternative payment systems designed to bypass sanctions, defense cooperation, and India’s growing workforce presence in Russia. Russia remains India’s largest defense supplier and now provides more than 35% of India’s crude oil imports — up from just 2% before the Ukraine conflict.
Despite Washington’s increasing restrictions on dealings involving Russian oil producers, analysts say the India–Russia relationship has remained remarkably stable. Experts note that US pressure, including tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump, has only reinforced New Delhi’s determination to maintain diversified partnerships.
For India, ties with Russia serve as an important strategic counterweight, allowing New Delhi to balance its relations with both Western powers and China. Analysts argue that isolating Moscow could push it further into Beijing’s orbit—an outcome India is keen to avoid, especially amid ongoing border tensions with China, dw.com reports.
Historical trust also plays a key role. Since the late 1940s, the Soviet Union and later Russia supported India’s industrial development, defense modernization, and diplomatic positions, including during the 1971 war with Pakistan. Defense cooperation—from missiles to submarines—has remained a cornerstone of the partnership.
India continued this balanced approach after the invasion of Ukraine, calling for a cessation of hostilities without directly condemning Moscow. Former diplomats say this reflects a long-standing relationship built on confidence, shared interests, and an absence of political conditions—unlike many partnerships with Western nations.
Analysts also point to India and Russia’s shared aspiration for “strategic autonomy” as global power dynamics shift. While India intensifies cooperation with the United States—including negotiations over a major deal to procure jet engines for its Tejas fighter aircraft—it is equally committed to sustaining ties with Moscow.
Putin’s visit, therefore, highlights India’s message to both Washington and Beijing: its foreign policy is not a zero-sum game. As former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal notes, India will pursue partnerships that serve its national interest—accommodating cooperation where beneficial, while resisting pressure to abandon long-standing allies like Russia.
