English
English
English
India-Russia ties face a defining moment as Vladimir Putin lands in New Delhi. A relationship that survived wars, sanctions and shifting world alliances now stands at a crossroads. Will this visit push the partnership into a new era or test it further?
India–Russia alliance enters new chapter with Putin’s India arrival
New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in India has once again brought global attention to one of the world’s most enduring strategic partnerships.
As New Delhi prepares to host crucial bilateral discussions, the visit is expected to further reinforce the decades-long bond shared between the two nations a relationship that has consistently withstood geopolitical shifts, power realignments and global pressures.
India-Russia relations have consistently stood firm over the last 78 years. During the Cold War era, when much of the Western bloc distanced itself, the Soviet Union extended substantial cooperation to India especially in the sectors of nuclear research, defence manufacturing, space technology, and heavy industry. The support proved decisive at a time when India was building its foundational capabilities.
Russian Oil Or US Trade: Can India have both? Modi-Putin meet holds the key
Moscow also stood by New Delhi in moments of strategic conflict. The USSR supported India during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, and later backed India during the 1999 Kargil conflict. This trust laid the foundation for a partnership built on strategic reliability rather than convenience.
A defining moment came in October 2000, when India and Russia signed the Declaration of Strategic Partnership in New Delhi. The agreement formalised annual summits and paved the way for long-term engagement across key areas.
Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure, ties deepened further, particularly in defence, atomic energy, space collaboration, hydrocarbons, science and technology, and trade.
At the peak of cooperation, nearly 70% of India’s defence inventory was of Russian origin. A memorandum of understanding was also signed for the production of satellite navigation equipment, marking an important technological link between the two nations.
India’s diplomatic outreach toward the United States and the West did not weaken its ties with Russia. Instead, engagement diversified. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the partnership scaled new heights visible in cooperation over Chandrayaan-2 and India’s Human Spaceflight Programme.
Delhi on high alert as Putin arrives today; What makes this visit a security challenge?
Trade and business collaboration also expanded through platforms like the India-Russia Business Council, Trade and Investment Forum, and Chamber of Commerce, strengthening commercial pathways beyond military transactions.
Putin’s visit to India carries strategic significance given ongoing geopolitical tensions, tariffs on India by Western economies, and sanctions placed on Moscow. Both nations face a shifting world order one where multipolar power structures are reshaping global alliances.
For India and Russia, continued cooperation offers stability, strategic depth, and shared strength. As leaders meet in New Delhi, observers believe this visit could propel bilateral ties into a new era extending far beyond defence and nuclear collaboration into emerging domains of technology, energy, innovation, and global policy coordination.
