Putin Travels to India to Strengthen ‘Special Partnership’

DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a crucial two-day visit to India, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their annual summit. The visit, taking place amidst intensive US-led talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war, is vital for the Kremlin’s strategy to navigate Western sanctions and reinforce its global standing. For Moscow, the relationship with India is now a strategic necessity, driven by economics and geopolitics.

India, with its population of nearly 1.5 billion and status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, represents a massive and highly attractive market for Russian goods and resources.

Prior to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian crude oil accounted for just 2.5% of India’s imports. That figure surged to 35% as India capitalized on sanctions-driven price discounts and Russia sought new markets after being cut off from Europe. Although US pressure has recently caused Indian orders for Russian oil to drop, Putin’s primary goal is to stabilize and increase these energy purchases.

Beyond oil, weapons sales remain a cornerstone of the historic relationship. Reports suggest India plans to purchase state-of-the-art Russian fighter jets and air defense systems, continuing a defense partnership that dates back to the Soviet era.

Beyond trade, the visit is a powerful geopolitical statement. By flying to Delhi just months after meeting China’s Xi Jinping, Putin aims to demonstrate that Western efforts to isolate Russia have failed. The image of the leaders of Russia, China, and India—all advocating for a “multi-polar world”—sends a clear signal that Moscow retains powerful allies.

The relationship is formally described by Moscow as a “special and privileged strategic partnership,” contrasting sharply with Russia’s increasingly strained ties with the European Union.

According to Novaya Gazeta columnist Andrei Kolesnikov, the Kremlin believes the West “totally failed” in its isolation attempts because Russia remains connected to “Asia and the Global South.” However, he also notes the loss of Russia’s historical connections to Europe is an “unprecedented” failure, one that a segment of Russia’s political class hopes to rectify eventually.

For now, however, the focus is squarely on the East, with this week’s agenda centered on strengthening the Russia-India friendship, securing new trade deals, and boosting economic cooperation between Moscow and Delhi.