Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on a two-day visit. After arriving in New Delhi on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand and formal reception at the India Air Force Palam Base. The two will meet in a summit on Friday.
This is President Putin’s first visit to India since Russia’s war with Ukraine began three years ago. He last visited New Delhi in December 2021.
In addition to meeting with Narendra Modi, Putin will also participate in the 23rd Russia-India Annual Summit. Putin will be formally welcomed at the India President’s House ahead of the summit on Friday. Later, he will attend lunch at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Putin will stay at Hyderabad House.
India’s tilt towards Moscow began in the 1970s. This is because Washington is increasing military and financial support to Pakistan, India’s main adversary. Russia then started supplying arms to India and Moscow became a reliable friend to the country. India still evaluates that role.
The official reception for Putin is usually reserved for close allies in New Delhi. Yet Modi simultaneously maintains a deep strategic partnership with the United States, Putin’s Russia’s main rival.
On the one hand, Russia’s advanced technology warplanes, buying fuel at affordable prices and maintaining Cold War friendship; On the other hand, the cooperation of the United States in technology, trade, and investment, and the hope of withdrawing the additional tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
After Putin invaded Ukraine, India used its strategic assets (big market, important geographical position in Indo-Pacific) to attract the attention of both White House and the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Modi is going through a sensitive timeNew Delhi is currently negotiating a much-needed trade deal with Washington. Because the United States has imposed a 50% tariff on India—half of which is Washington’s direct punitive measure for buying Russian oil at discounted prices.
New Delhi recently reduced its purchases of Russian oil to appease Washington and agreed to buy 2.2 million metric tons of LPG from the United States.
However, the priority of Putin’s visit will be the new defense deal with Moscow—India feels the need to strengthen its defense against Pakistan and China. In recent years, tensions have increased along the India-Pakistan and India-China borders.
Russia is also a close partner of China, and Beijing is one of Pakistan’s main sources of arms.
By laying out the red carpet for Putin, New Delhi wants to show the West and China that India “has an alternative” – thinks Ashoka University’s Visiting Professor Kanti Bajpai.
This, he said, indicates that India still wants to stay with Russia — even as Moscow faces international criticism. According to him, beyond oil-weapons, it is a strategic balance—showing Beijing and Washington that Delhi has a third option.
During the Cold War, India developed a close relationship with Moscow. As a newly independent country, India received great assistance from the Soviet Union.
According to SIPRI, India’s arms purchases from Russia have declined over the past four years, but Moscow is still the main military supplier.
Most of these weapons have been purchased with China’s military capabilities in mind—again, with India’s long-standing border tensions.
Beijing, on the other hand, is Pakistan’s major arms supplier, including fighter jets. Pakistan Army said that they used Chinese jets to shoot down India’s fighter jets in border clashes earlier this year. One of the downed aircraft was a Russia-made Sukhoi SU-30.
According to Reuters, most of India’s 29 fighter jets are Russian Sukhoi SU-30s.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said talks this week could include a possible arms deal on the SU-57.
But in recent months Moscow-New Delhi Economic ties have been the most talked-about concern of the moment.
After the start of the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, the West imposed sanctions and oil prices fell. India increased its purchase of Russian crude oil on that occasion and became the Kremlin’s major importer.
ORF Distinguished Fellow Nandan Unnikrishnan said, India has to be careful now, especially since the bilateral trade deal has not been finalized yet.
Criticizing the West, India says its first responsibility is to the country’s people and economy.
Last August, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods — a punishment for Washington’s trade deficit and Russia’s oil purchases.
In October, Trump imposed sanctions on two of Russia’s largest oil companies, raising concerns in India. According to Reuters sources, India’s oil imports will fall to a three-year low in December.
Washington’s fiscal pressure is also having an effect on easing India-China tensions. Within days of the tariff being implemented, Modi visited China for the first time in seven years for a summit hosted by Xi Jinping.
It was at that summit that Putin met Modi for the last time. They then had a private meeting in the Putin limousine for about an hour.
Striving for a Balance
Washington has strengthened ties through technology transfers, joint military exercises, etc., with the Biden administration seeing India as a key force to counter China.
The Modi–Trump relationship was also close. The duo’s diplomatic display at gatherings like Howdy Modi came up for discussion.
Recently the United States agreed on a new 10-year framework – aimed at deepening industry, technology, and intelligence sharing.
India is still negotiating the outline of the Washington Trade Deal. India Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said the deal could be finalized by the end of this year.
India’s move is not a sign of severing other ties, says Unnikrishnan. According to him, having the United States Trade Deal and also having relations with Russia are not contradictory.
Analysts say a deeper understanding of the Kremlin is fueling this confidence.
Bajpai saidNew Delhi–Moscow relations are close. Putin knows Modi is under pressure now – he has to explain it at home too.
Still, this delicate calculation will be on Washington’s radar—especially when Putin’s visit to New Delhi includes negotiations on important military deals.
Unnikrishnan said, India needs to be very careful—especially since the bilateral trade deal is not yet finalised. Nothing new and uncomfortable can be added to the current complex situation.
