New Delhi (TDI): Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Thursday for a whirlwind 30-hour visit to discuss defense cooperation and strengthen trade ties, underscoring the longstanding strategic relationship between the two nations.
Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand defense collaboration, review ongoing military procurement projects, and explore new avenues for joint technological ventures.
Both sides emphasized the importance of sustaining and modernizing bilateral military cooperation, reflecting decades of strategic partnership.
Earlier, the Kremlin described Putin’s visit to India as “highly significant, offering a platform to thoroughly address the wide-ranging agenda of Russian Indian relations within this particularly privileged strategic partnership.”
Accompanying Putin on the visit are Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, the defense minister, and a broad delegation from business and industry, including senior executives from the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, as well as reportedly the leaders of sanctioned energy companies Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.
Bilateral trade between Russia and India surged to $68.7 billion in 2024-25, nearly six times the pre-pandemic levels, although Indian exports contributed just $4.88 billion to that total.”
Read More: India to Seek Major Defense Deals During Upcoming Putin Visit
Putin’s brief trip comes amid rising tensions between Washington and New Delhi, as the US has imposed tariffs and threatened sanctions in response to India’s deepening ties with Russia and its increased imports of Russian crude oil since the Ukraine war.
This situation has intensified India’s historical challenge of balancing relations between Russia and the West.
Since its independence in 1947, India has largely avoided formal alliances, leading the non-aligned movement during the Cold War while gradually leaning toward the Soviet Union from the 1960s.
In the post-Cold War era, India has strengthened strategic and military ties with the US while maintaining its longstanding friendship with Russia.
However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has complicated this balance, and Putin’s visit may signal how Prime Minister Modi intends to manage India’s competing international relationships without compromising any key partnership.
India’s defense and energy engagements with Russia are not purely transactional; they also serve to bolster New Delhi’s regional influence while maintaining strategic autonomy in the face of global pressures. Putin’s visit, though brief, reflects a mutual commitment to navigating these complexities carefully.
The meetings included discussions on upcoming defense procurements, technology transfers, and the potential for joint research initiatives in aerospace and cybersecurity.
Minahil Khurshid holds a Master's in Peace and Conflict Studies from NUST. She is passionate about current affairs, public policy, and geopolitics.
