Putin visit: Reaffirming Indo-Russian solidarity

India and Russia have been friends since the cold war days when India refused to join the western bloc and charted its Non-aligned course. It came at its own peril as the US sided with Pakistan and was suspicious of India’s intention. But the gamble paid off as India maintained its independent foreign policy without budging to the US pressure. Russia supported it in the times of crisis and the friendship endured.

In the present context too, this holds good as India has refused to bow to the US pressure and maintained steady relation with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to New Delhi will go a long way  in cementing this relationship as both countries need each other than ever before. For India, the visit is far more than a diplomatic formality. It is a reaffirmation of a long-standing partnership, a signal of continuity in a turbulent world, and above all, a clear articulation of India’s strategic autonomy at a time when Western world continue to frown upon India’s import of discounted Russian oil. The visit is packed with symbolism and substance — from a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan to paying homage at Raj Ghat, and from restricted talks at Hyderabad House to the annual India–Russia Summit, every segment reflects the depth of a relationship that has withstood vagaries of time and pressure from external actors.

This is also an occasion for balancing a heavily skewed trade basket. Although bilateral trade touched $68 billion last year, driven largely by India’s purchase of Russian oil, India’s exports amounted to less than $5 billion.  The business forum organised jointly by FICCI and Roscongress was therefore crucial. Defence cooperation, traditionally the bedrock of the partnership, is set to deepen further following the visit. Just ahead of the visit, the Russian Duma ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), which will facilitate the movement and support of warships, military aircraft, and personnel to India. Modeled on India’s Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US, Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics (RELOS) with Russia represents a modernisation of the defence relationship, enabling more joint exercises, humanitarian missions, and interoperability.  Ongoing discussions over the supply of S-400 systems, Su-57 aircraft, and small modular nuclear reactors further underline Russia’s continuing relevance to India’s military and energy security architecture.

 Besides, the geopolitical context of the visit cannot be ignored. Since the Ukraine conflict began, India has faced sustained pressure from Western countries to reduce its economic and strategic engagement with Moscow. Yet New Delhi has resisted these demands, choosing instead to prioritise its national interest. Putin’s visit, therefore, is a reminder that India’s foreign policy is shaped neither by the US pressure nor by ideological factors but by its national interest.  With agreements spanning trade, agriculture, defence, academia, and media — one message  stands out: the India–Russia relationship is evolving and is here to stay.