New Delhi / Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi, marking his first state visit to India in four years and signaling the resumption of in-person annual summits disrupted first by the COVID-19 pandemic and later by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Invited personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two-day trip overlaps with the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit—an institutional tradition that has come to define their “special and privileged strategic partnership.”
Putin arrives at a moment of acute geopolitical churn: U.S. tariffs under the second Trump presidency are reshaping global trade flows; Ukraine peace negotiations remain frozen; and tensions along the Sino-Indian border continue to simmer. Against this backdrop, Modi welcomed Putin with an unmistakable gesture of warmth—a protocol-breaking hug at Palam Airport, followed by a shared car ride. That symbolism encapsulated a rapport built over 17 meetings since 2014, and hinted at the visit’s deeper message: India’s relationship with Russia remains a cornerstone of its foreign-policy architecture.
Historical Backdrop: A Partnership Forged in Trust
Indo-Russian relations stretch back more than seven decades, a continuum that began in April 1947 when the Soviet Union recognized India even before its formal independence. What began as diplomatic engagement evolved into a Cold War alliance rooted in mutual strategic need. As New Delhi navigated Western skepticism during the 1960s and ’70s, Moscow emerged as its most dependable partner.
The 1971 Indo-Pak War was the pivotal moment that cemented this bond. As the U.S. and China backed Pakistan, the Soviet Union deployed a naval flotilla to the Bay of Bengal and stood firmly behind India. The same year, both nations signed the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation—a landmark that institutionalized mutual support.
The collapse of the USSR in 1991 introduced uncertainty, particularly under Boris Yeltsin, when Moscow reoriented toward the West. But the arrival of Vladimir Putin in 2000 set the relationship on a renewed trajectory. The 2000 Declaration on Strategic Partnership provided the framework for deeper political, defense, and economic ties; in 2010, the relationship was elevated to the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” a unique label in India’s diplomatic lexicon.
Over the decades, annual summits since 2000 have delivered over a hundred agreements spanning energy, defense, nuclear cooperation, space exploration, and trade. Putin has visited India more than any other foreign leader—ten times—reflecting consistent intent to sustain this bond. Modi’s reciprocal visits—to Moscow in 2024 and several before—have reinforced the personal chemistry driving statecraft.
Despite major global upheavals, the partnership has shown resilience. India’s refusal to condemn Russia at the UN following the Ukraine invasion in 2022 stemmed from a pragmatic balancing of interests: geopolitical autonomy and energy security. The fallout was dramatic—bilateral trade exploded from $8.1 billion in 2020 to $68.7 billion in FY 2025, fueled largely by India’s import of discounted Russian crude, which surged 2,250% in the post-invasion period.
Defense remains the bedrock of the relationship. Russia continues to supply 40–50% of India’s military equipment—from S-400 air defense systems to Su-30 MKI fighters and T-72 tank upgrades. A March 2025 agreement to equip T-72s with 1,000 HP engines, including technology transfer, underscored ongoing cooperation despite sanctions pressure. Nuclear collaboration—including Kudankulam’s expansion—and cooperation on Gaganyaan space missions further bind the two nations.
As Putin remarked in an exclusive interview to India Today on December 3, 2025, “Our partnership is time-tested, immune to external pressures.” His visit to Delhi seeks to reaffirm precisely that.
The Summit Agenda: Defense Takes Centre Stage
Putin’s schedule in Delhi is choreographed to blend ceremony with strategic depth. After a private dinner hosted by Modi on the evening of his arrival, the Russian leader on the second day will be part of a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a wreath-laying at Rajghat. Bilateral talks at Hyderabad House—will be attended by key ministers, defense officials, and CEOs from Rosoboronexport, Rosneft, and Sberbank—forming the core of the day. The action shifts later to the India-Russia Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam, capped by a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.
Although the summit addresses a wide spectrum—politics, trade, economy, science and technology, culture—defense cooperation remains the fulcrum.
Key Defense Deliverables Expected
1. Additional S-400 Regiments
India operationalized its first S-400 unit in 2024 and deployed it during the May 2025 India-Pakistan skirmish. Discussions are underway for additional regiments to strengthen air defense against threats from both China and Pakistan.
2. Su-57 Stealth Fighter Proposal
With Pakistan inducting China’s advanced J-35 jets, Russia’s pitch to supply Su-57 fifth-generation fighters is gaining traction. For India, the offer addresses gaps caused by delays in the domestic AMCA program.
3. Nuclear Submarine Lease
The long-delayed $2 billion deal to lease another Akula-class SSN is back on track. It would significantly boost India’s underwater deterrence in the Indian Ocean.
4. BrahMos & Small Arms Co-production
Ongoing collaboration on BrahMos missiles—already exported to the Philippines—is set for expansion, alongside accelerated production of AK-203 rifles in Amethi.
5. Logistics Exchange & Joint Operations
A logistics pact finalized in February 2025 allows mutual access to bases and ports. This enhances interoperability for joint exercises and Indo-Pacific operations.
Beyond defense, energy is another major pillar. With U.S. sanctions squeezing India’s discounted intake of Russian crude, Putin is expected to propose mechanisms to stabilize supplies. Russia remains India’s largest oil supplier, despite imports dipping to a three-year low in December 2025. India, meanwhile, seeks diversified sourcing—including increased LNG from the U.S.—but remains open to re-engaging Moscow on price assurances.
Trade imbalances also shape the agenda. India exported $4.9 billion worth of goods to Russia in FY 2025—far outweighed by its $63.8 billion in imports, primarily crude. New Delhi is pushing for wider access for pharmaceuticals, IT services, shrimp, and textiles. Cooperation in the Arctic, BRICS expansion under India’s 2026 chairmanship, and SCO coordination round out the wider agenda.
Implications for Indo-Russian Relations
Putin’s visit aims to elevate ties to what Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described as “a qualitatively new level,” reinforcing the partnership’s long-term trajectory.
Economic Dimension
The goal is to expand bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Rupee-rouble settlements—designed to circumvent dollar volatility—pave the way for deeper financial cooperation. Sberbank’s plans for rupee-denominated infrastructure investments in India hint at a new wave of economic integration.
Defense Continuity Amid Diversification
While Russia remains India’s largest military supplier, sanctions-induced delays—such as the expected pushback of the last S-400 units to 2026—have triggered diversification toward France, the U.S., and Israel. But India is not abandoning Russia; rather, it is hedging. Deep supply-chain dependencies for legacy platforms like MiG-29s and Su-30s make continuity essential.
Geopolitical Balancing
For India, the partnership acts as a counterweight against China’s rising military and diplomatic assertiveness. Russia’s neutral position during India-China crises—reaffirmed by Ambassador Denis Alipov in February 2025—gives New Delhi a strategic buffer, preventing Beijing from monopolizing Moscow’s attention.
For Russia, India provides an indispensable Asian partner beyond China. As Moscow becomes more isolated due to Ukraine, Delhi’s diplomatic embrace bolsters Putin’s global legitimacy.
Why the U.S. and China Are Watching Closely
No India-Russia summit unfolds in a vacuum, and this one is drawing intense scrutiny in Washington and Beijing—albeit for different reasons.
The U.S.: Tariffs, Oil, and Strategic Anxiety
The United States under Donald Trump has adopted an increasingly transactional posture. The steep August 2025 tariffs—doubling duties on Indian exports to 50%—were justified as retaliation for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, which Trump argues undermine Western efforts in Ukraine.
Washington fears that fresh Indo-Russian defense agreements, particularly concerning submarines or stealth aircraft, could rekindle CAATSA sanctions debates. Analysts warn that heavy reliance on Moscow may clash with Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
Yet, there is evident contradiction: Trump himself hosted Putin in Alaska in August 2025 under the banner of “peace talks.” For many in Delhi, the double standards are glaring.
China: Suspicion Behind Official Calm
Beijing is watching Putin’s India outreach with measured unease. Though China and Russia profess a “no-limits partnership,” the reality is more transactional. Moscow arming India with Su-57s or advanced naval technology complicates China’s military calculus, especially amid periodic Ladakh flare-ups.
China also worries that Russia’s tilt toward India could erode its leverage in Central Asia and the broader Eurasian architecture. Beijing’s state media dismisses the visit as routine, but strategic analysts note clear discomfort over Russia’s growing willingness to balance China by engaging India more deeply.
For India, the visit underscores its autonomy: it will neither be drawn into a U.S.-led bloc nor concede to a China-Russia duopoly.
A Summit That Signals More Than It Signs
Putin’s return to New Delhi is far more than a ceremonial reaffirmation—it is a strategic recalibration amid global uncertainty. The agreements signed during the visit are important, especially in defense and energy, but the optics matter just as much. Modi’s warm reception, the personal camaraderie, and the sheer symbolism of the visit send a clear message: Indo-Russian ties remain a durable, adaptive pillar of India’s foreign policy.
For India, navigating a fractured world requires balancing great-power rivalries while securing national interests. For Russia, partnership with India offers economic expansion, strategic diversity, and diplomatic legitimacy.
Whether the world tilts toward multipolarity or further fragmentation, the Delhi summit demonstrates that India and Russia—despite external pressures—are determined to shape their own strategic destinies.
