Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India strengthened India–Russia strategic ties. During the 23rd annual summit in New Delhi, 19 key agreements were signed across defense, energy, trade, space, and technology. Amid global tensions, analysts see this visit as a signal of deeper cooperation. Veteran journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash explained the visit on his show.
New Delhi: A new chapter in the strategic partnership between India and Russia has unfolded in New Delhi with the conclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit. Putin arrived for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, during which the two nations signed 19 significant agreements across key sectors. This visit raises important questions about the advantages India has secured, the global implications of these developments, and the future trajectory of India-Russia relations.
Senior journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash said on his popular show 'The MTA Speaks' that Putin's visit came at a time when the world is facing several serious geopolitical challenges. Economic uncertainty continues in the US due to Trump’s tariffs, the Russia–Ukraine war is still not completely over, the global oil market is experiencing instability, and tensions are rising in the internal politics of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This high-level visit also took place immediately after India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, which is why the entire world was closely watching it. Many analysts believe that this visit signals that India and Russia are set to play an even more coordinated role than before in regional security, energy, trade, and defense cooperation.
The most special and significant aspect of India-Russia relations is that the history of both countries transcends politics. Regardless of the ideology of the government in Delhi, Moscow and New Delhi have always remained reliable, stable, and trustworthy strategic partners. A clear example of this enduring relationship is the 14th India-Russia Summit held in Moscow on October 27, 2013, where the then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, described Russia as India’s “closest friend” and said that defense, trade, and strategic cooperation between the two nations were reaching new heights. I personally witnessed that historic visit and, as a senior correspondent for Doordarshan News, covered the summit in Moscow along with the then Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
India-Russia relations date back even before independence, when India formally established diplomatic ties with the then Soviet Union in April 1947. In 1951, the Soviet Union vetoed a resolution in the United Nations Security Council on the Kashmir issue in support of India, further strengthening the foundation of trust between the two countries. In 1955, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru made his first visit to Moscow, and in the same year, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited India. During Nehru’s second visit to Moscow in 1965, Soviet support played a crucial role in India’s industrial development, heavy machinery manufacturing, steel plants, and the construction of large dams.
In the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Soviet Union openly stood with India. In the same year, the historic 'Treaty of Peace and Friendship' was signed between India and the Soviet Union, which took the relations between the two countries to new heights. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia in 1999, and in the 2000s, India-Russia relations were redefined. During Putin's visit to India in 2000, the 'Declaration on Strategic Partnership' was signed, after which cooperation in defense, Sukhoi fighter aircraft manufacturing, the BrahMos missile project, cryogenic technology, and nuclear energy increased rapidly. Russia has consistently remained an important partner of India on multilateral forums such as the United Nations, BRICS, SCO, and G-20.
Now, in 2025, that same trust and warmth seem to be returning. Putin's visit has clearly indicated that the relations between the two countries are not only traditionally strong but that this partnership is going to deepen further in the future. During this visit, significant progress was made in 19 agreements covering areas such as defense, energy, trade, space, Arctic cooperation, education, skill development, digital technology, and nuclear energy. Russia has signaled its intention to further accelerate 'Make in India' in defense production with India, with key points of cooperation including the upgrade of the Sukhoi-30 MKI, delivery of the S-400 system, and collaboration on a new version of the BrahMos missile.
Several crucial agreements were also reached in the energy sector, which are considered extremely important for India. Russia is one of the world's largest energy producers, and India is the world's third-largest energy consumer. Therefore, cheaper crude oil, long-term LNG contracts, and a new supply arrangement with Rosneft will strengthen India's energy security framework. In addition, Russia has assured India of increased cooperation in energy exploration and research in the Arctic region.
In the trade sector, both countries have agreed on a new strategy to achieve the target of $100 billion. Currently, India-Russia trade is around $65-70 billion, with India's imports from Russia exceeding its exports. To address this imbalance, cooperation has been agreed upon in the pharmaceutical, IT, agricultural products, automobile components, and startup sectors. Both countries have also prepared a roadmap to further simplify trade in local currencies, reducing dollar dependence and mitigating the impact of global economic pressures.
From a defense diplomacy perspective, this visit was extremely significant. Despite the Ukraine conflict, Russia has assured India of the transfer of several important defense technologies. India also held positive discussions with Russia on several joint production projects, which will accelerate India's self-reliant defense capabilities. Furthermore, Russia clarified that India is a “privileged strategic partner” in its foreign policy.
A significant aspect of Putin's visit was that both leaders emphasized strengthening the voice of the Global South. Both India and Russia agree that the world is becoming multipolar and that emerging economies should have greater representation in global decision-making processes.
Overall, Putin's visit to India was not only symbolic but also extremely results-oriented. It conveyed the message that the relationship between India and Russia has always stood the test of time, geopolitics, and global pressures, and this partnership is only going to get stronger in the future.
