India–Russia Ties Latest News
- India is preparing to host President Vladimir Putin for a two-day visit, even as it faces punitive U.S. tariffs over its imports of Russian oil.
- President Putin is visiting India to attend 23rd India–Russia annual summit.
- The visit underscores New Delhi’s intent to deepen ties with Moscow. Analysts say India views Russia as a crucial partner at a time when the U.S. appears unreliable and China increasingly hostile.
Putin’s India Visits: Then and Now
- When Putin first visited India in October 2000, both countries were navigating turbulent times:
- Putin was newly elected President.
- India was under Western sanctions for Pokhran-II.
- Russia was weakened after the Soviet collapse.
- The U.S. dominated a unipolar world.
- India–Pakistan tensions were high after Kargil and IC-814 hijack.
- The visit came just months before the Red Fort attack (Dec 2000).
- India and Russia were both struggling, albeit for different reasons.
Putin’s 2025 Visit: Striking Parallels, Changed Realities
- Putin’s upcoming visit (on December 4–5, 2025) — the 23rd annual summit — is his first since the Ukraine invasion (2022).
- Today:
- Russia faces sweeping Western sanctions.
- India faces secondary U.S. sanctions and steep tariffs on Russian oil purchases.
- India–Pakistan tensions have resurfaced after May 2025 clashes.
- Delhi again saw a blast near the Red Fort.
- Despite the parallels, both nations hold stronger positions than 25 years ago.
India’s Evolving Global Alignments
- In the past two decades, India has significantly expanded ties with the West:
- Deep security and defence cooperation
- Strong economic partnerships
- Growing people-to-people engagement
- Strategic alignment with the U.S. on the Indo-Pacific
- At the same time, India has retained its defence partnership with Russia, a Soviet-era legacy, while gradually diversifying to other technology providers.
Russia’s Changing Global Role
- Russia is now more isolated due to the Ukraine war but remains strategically important for India:
- Defence cooperation
- Energy supplies
- Diplomatic alignment on some geopolitical issues
- Both countries, though facing external pressure, continue to pursue a relationship shaped by mutual strategic interests.
India’s Defence Dependence on Russia: Shrinking but Still Significant
- India has diversified its defence imports, but around 60% of its military equipment remains of Russian origin, requiring ongoing spares and maintenance.
- Key systems like the S-400 air defence system illustrate this reliance: Russia has delivered 3 of 5 batteries, and India now wants five more.
- However, the Ukraine war and Western sanctions have slowed Russia’s ability to supply equipment on time.
- While European analysts say sanctions have weakened Russia’s capacity to produce advanced systems, Moscow disputes this claim.
India–Russia Oil Trade: From Discount Bonanza to Sanctions Pressure
- After the Ukraine war began, India bought discounted Russian oil, helping keep domestic fuel prices stable.
- This pushed bilateral trade to a record $68.7 billion in FY 2024–25, but the balance is heavily one-sided — India exported just $4.9 billion, while imports, mostly oil, were $63.8 billion.
- Both countries had set a $100-billion trade target by 2030, but that goal is now uncertain.
- With U.S. tariffs, secondary sanctions from the U.S. and Europe, and shrinking cost advantages, Indian refiners are expected to cut Russian oil purchases.
- This shift jeopardizes the trade target and places India in a strategic bind between energy security and geopolitical pressures.
What to Expect from Putin’s India Visit
- Putin’s visit to Delhi will be closely watched as India faces growing U.S. and European pressure over its ties with Russia.
- The trip will feature high optics — a private dinner, state banquet, bilateral talks, and a CEOs’ address — echoing the warm public gestures seen earlier between Modi and Putin.
- Substantive outcomes are expected, including:
- Progress on a labour mobility pact
- Movement on a trade deal with the Eurasian Economic Union
- Potential new defence purchases, including additional S-400 systems and the latest Sukhoi aircraft
- Expanded market access for Indian goods, from perishables to pharmaceuticals
- Overall, the visit is expected to reinforce strategic cooperation even as geopolitical pressures intensify.
India’s Strategic Balancing Between the West and Russia
- India seeks deeper ties with the US and Europe for technology, investment, and ambitious trade agreements.
- Yet Russia remains indispensable for long-term defence needs.
- Delhi is also wary of Russia’s “no-limits” partnership with China, especially with 50,000 Indian troops deployed along the tense India–China border.
- Maintaining a careful equilibrium between these major powers remains India’s core strategic challenge.
Source: IE | CNBC
India–Russia Ties FAQs
Q1: Why is Putin’s 2025 visit to India significant?
Ans: Putin’s visit comes amid U.S. tariffs on India and sanctions on Russia, underscoring India’s intent to deepen strategic ties despite geopolitical pressure from the West.
Q2: How have India–Russia ties changed since Putin’s first visit in 2000?
Ans: Both countries were weaker in 2000; today India has stronger Western ties while maintaining defence links with Russia, and both face sanctions-driven external pressure.
Q3: How dependent is India on Russian defence equipment?
Ans: Around 60% of India’s military platforms remain Russian-made, including the S-400 system. Deliveries have slowed due to the Ukraine war and sanctions impacting Russian capacity.
Q4: What is the status of India–Russia oil trade?
Ans: Trade hit $68.7 billion, driven by discounted Russian oil. But U.S. tariffs and secondary sanctions reduce incentives, threatening the $100-billion trade target for 2030.
Q5: What outcomes are expected from Putin’s India visit?
Ans: Likely outcomes include progress on labour mobility, Eurasian trade talks, new defence deals, and expanded Russian market access for Indian perishables and pharmaceuticals.
