Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India on 4th and 5th December is triggering extensive debate across social media. The timing for renewing the old friendship is eye-catching in the current global geopolitical environment. The gestures and intentions behind this visit are highly significant for India. The 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit has pushed India into the global spotlight across diplomatic, defence, and strategic circles.
Pictures, videos, and visuals from Akbar Road are conveying a strong message to India’s opponents. Strong ties, trade, and bilateral or even trilateral cooperation represent the kind of unity that helps countries advance on multiple fronts. The road lined with posters welcoming Putin highlights the symbolic weight of this visit at a time when the global geopolitical landscape is deeply divided due to the Ukraine conflict. Former BrahMos Aerospace CEO and MD Sudhir Mishra rightly noted that the visit underlines the “importance Russia places on its ties with India,” especially amid Western and NATO criticism of Moscow.
Historically, Russia has been a very close ally of India. From the Cold War era to modern multi-sectoral cooperation, the India–Russia partnership has undergone many shifts but remains a pillar of India’s strategic autonomy. As discussions on defence, energy, technology, and trade intensify, the world is watching how New Delhi and Moscow recalibrate their ties for the future.
The present ties between the two nations are being discussed widely, one message for China and Pakistan, another for how the U.S. and other global powers perceive this renewed engagement. At the same time, ordinary Indians are watching closely to see what this evolving partnership means for national security and air defence.
A strong message is being sent globally, yet common citizens must understand that Russia could not assist India during Operation Sindoor because it was an internal matter. While Moscow has long been a trusted friend, it has also maintained ties with Pakistan and other regional actors to balance its broader Eurasian interests, making direct operational involvement sensitive. Moreover, since 2022, Russia’s military resources and attention have been heavily absorbed by the Ukraine conflict, limiting its ability to offer real-time support even to friendly nations. Moscow itself has been engaged in war and unable to strengthen partnerships as before, but its renewed focus on India, arriving with major deals and strategic proposals, is surprising the world and fuelling fresh geopolitical predictions.
Trade between India and Russia has grown unexpectedly fast, reaching USD 80–90 billion in the 2023–24 period, one of the highest bilateral trade volumes India has achieved with any country outside the U.S.–EU bloc. Following Western sanctions, Russia redirected a significant portion of its crude oil exports to Asia, with India emerging as one of the largest buyers. Defence cooperation remains strong as India continues procuring spare parts, missile systems, Sukhoi aircraft components, and key naval equipment. Major strategic projects, such as Units 3–6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, are progressing steadily, while Indian pharmaceutical exports to Russia continue to rise. Alongside this, India exports tea, rice, spices, and processed foods, reinforcing a diversified and growing economic partnership.
This renewed partnership will also help expand cooperation across various sectors while strengthening India’s influence in South Asia. Both countries are now engaging in national currency settlements (rupee–ruble), developing dedicated shipping corridors via Iran, and improving logistics and payment systems. Russian expert Daria Zagrebina has highlighted the need to strengthen cross-border supply chains to overcome current delays related to shipping, insurance, and financing.
India–Russia ties have historically been anchored in defence cooperation, space collaboration, UN diplomatic support, cultural affinity, and joint industrial ventures. Although India diversified its defence imports toward the U.S., Israel, and France over the past decade, and Russia simultaneously deepened ties with China, President Putin’s visit, along with unprecedented trade growth, signals that the relationship is being revived in a pragmatic and forward-looking manner. High-level political engagement remains strong, with Putin’s in-person visit reflecting his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Defence and strategic projects such as the BrahMos missile system, the S-400 air defence system, AK-203 rifle production in Amethi, and nuclear energy cooperation continue to advance. Both nations are also reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar through national currency settlements, enhancing economic resilience and strategic trust. Cultural and tourism exchanges further reinforce ties, with India’s soft power, Bollywood, yoga, Ayurveda, continuing to enjoy immense popularity in Russia. Overall, the partnership has evolved from nostalgic goodwill to a mature, interest-driven strategic relationship suited to emerging global realities.
The renewed India–Russia connection has revived old friendship while projecting powerful signals across the global arena, especially towards China, Pakistan, the West, and the Global South. Putin’s visit demonstrates that Moscow seeks balanced ties with both Asian giants rather than becoming a junior partner to China, while reaffirming that Pakistan cannot replace India as Russia’s principal strategic partner in South Asia. For the West, the summit underlines India’s commitment to multi-alignment rather than bloc politics, refusing to bow to pressure over sanctions or geopolitical divides. To the Global South, it reinforces the rise of multipolarity and the possibility of building partnerships outside Western systems. Overall, the message is clear: India remains a sovereign, confident power capable of engaging all major players on its own terms

Global Response: How the U.S. and World Leaders Are Reacting

The global response to the renewed India–Russia engagement has been cautious yet telling. The United States has adopted a realistic approach, recognising India as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific and understanding that New Delhi will maintain ties with Russia due to long-standing defence dependence. Washington knows that pressuring India too hard could push it closer to Russia and China, so its criticism remains measured, focusing on oil trade, rupee–ruble settlements, and systems like the S-400, while avoiding direct confrontation. Europe continues to criticise Moscow over the Ukraine war, yet sees India as a balancing actor capable of keeping doors open for dialogue and de-escalation. Meanwhile, China watches the summit closely because a strong India–Russia partnership reduces Beijing’s leverage over Moscow, particularly in defence and energy. In the Middle East, countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran view India–Russia cooperation as part of the broader Eurasian connectivity arc and welcome the rise of multipolar engagement.

What Indian Citizens Expect from This Relationship

For ordinary Indians, the renewed energy in India–Russia relations carries very practical expectations. Affordable oil remains the top priority, as India imports nearly 85% of its crude. Discounted Russian oil has helped stabilise inflation, reduce petrol and diesel prices, and secure long-term energy supply—benefits people want to continue. The public also looks toward strengthened defence capability, with India seeking modernisation in air defence, long-range missile systems, fighter aircraft, and naval technology—areas where Russia has consistently been a reliable supplier. Joint ventures such as the AK-203 rifle factory in Amethi, expanded BrahMos production, and nuclear energy projects are also expected to generate jobs and stimulate local industry. In addition, deeper cooperation in satellite navigation, cyber security, AI, quantum technologies, and space exploration presents new avenues for technological growth. Above all, citizens hope the partnership contributes to a stable geopolitical environment, allowing India to maintain peace with neighbours while enhancing its global stature without being dragged into foreign conflicts.
Will the Partnership Strengthen India’s National Security and Air Defence?
The strengthening of India–Russia ties is expected to significantly enhance India’s national security and air defence. Russia remains India’s most dependable strategic partner for high-end military technology, especially in sensitive domains that Western nations hesitate to share. The S-400 Triumf system—India’s strongest shield against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and enemy aircraft—offers unparalleled protection against regional threats from Pakistan and China. Joint development of BrahMos upgrades, including the lighter BrahMos-NG and extended-range variants, continues to boost India’s deterrence posture. Russia’s support is also crucial for maintaining India’s Su-30MKI fleet, MiG-29s, transport aircraft, and helicopter platforms. Perhaps the most significant area of cooperation is submarine technology, where Russia has aided India’s nuclear submarine programme—an area no Western country has been willing to enter. Regular intelligence sharing and counter-terror collaboration further deepen strategic trust, making defence and air security cooperation a pivotal pillar of the renewed partnership.

Broader Impact on Asia and the Global Order

Putin’s visit carries implications that extend well beyond bilateral ties. India–Russia cooperation strengthens multipolarity, where power is distributed among multiple centres instead of being controlled by a single global bloc. By settling trade in national currencies, both nations are challenging the dominance of Western financial systems and accelerating the shift toward alternative global trade routes. Strategic projects such as the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor will deepen Eurasian connectivity, linking India more directly to Russia and onward to Europe. A revitalised partnership between New Delhi and Moscow also helps balance China’s growing dominance in Asia, offering India strategic depth and contributing to stability in Central Asia. As Russia diversifies its partnerships away from over-reliance on China, India emerges as a crucial counterweight. Additionally, the developing India, Russia–Iran triangle strengthens energy cooperation and trade corridors, shaping a new strategic architecture across the region.
President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India is far more than a symbolic diplomatic event, it marks a moment of renewed trust, long-term strategic compatibility, and shared geopolitical interests. At a time of escalating global tensions, from Ukraine to West Asia to Indo-Pacific rivalries, the India–Russia relationship has regained relevance and momentum. India’s model of multi-alignment allows it to engage with Russia without compromising ties with the U.S., Europe, or regional partners, while Russia views India as a dependable Asian partner offering political stability, economic opportunity, and a counterbalance to China. For Indian citizens, the partnership promises affordable energy, greater defence security, technological opportunities, job creation, and a more stable geopolitical environment. For the global community, it reinforces India’s emergence as an independent power centre capable of shaping its alliances and influencing the world order on its own terms. With defence, energy, nuclear cooperation, technology, and trade forming the core pillars, the India–Russia relationship stands not only as a legacy of the past but as a forward-looking partnership poised to shape the next decade of Asian and global geopolitics.

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