Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, as both countries look to strengthen economic and strategic ties at a time of shifting global politics and mounting Western pressure.
This is Putin’s first visit to India in four years. The trip comes as New Delhi is negotiating a trade deal with the United States to ease punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, who has criticised India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil. India now finds itself balancing relations with both Moscow and Washington, each vital for different economic and security interests.
Russia remains India’s biggest arms supplier and a major energy partner. Moscow now aims to deepen trade further and has proposed lifting bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Currently, trade is heavily tilted in Russia’s favour, largely due to India’s increased imports of cheap Russian crude after European buyers cut back on purchases following the Ukraine conflict.
“India faces a conundrum: strengthening ties with Moscow risks complicating relations with Washington, and vice versa,” wrote Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, in Foreign Policy this week.
Talks to focus on defence, nuclear energy, and trade
Modi and Putin are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including defence cooperation, labour mobility, and civil nuclear energy. Both sides are likely to announce new agreements that underline the durability of their decades-old partnership.
Putin was welcomed at an airport near New Delhi on Thursday with hugs and handshakes from Prime Minister Modi before being hosted for a private dinner. A high-level Russian delegation accompanied him, including Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, who met Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Following the meeting, India’s defence ministry said Russia had expressed readiness to help India advance its ambition of becoming more self-reliant in defence production.
Background of the visit
Putin’s arrival in India came a day after he met senior US envoys to discuss a possible peace framework for ending the conflict in Ukraine. No breakthrough was reported.
India has maintained a careful diplomatic stance throughout the war. While urging dialogue and diplomacy, it has avoided condemning Moscow, a position that Western governments have criticised even as many of them continue to trade with Russia where it suits their interests.
New Delhi insists its ties with Russia should not be judged selectively and argues that its energy and defence cooperation with Moscow supports India’s long-term strategic needs.
The summit between Modi and Putin will be closely watched for signals about how India plans to navigate the competing demands of two major powers, the United States and Russia, in an increasingly polarised international environment.
