Post by : Saif Rahman

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a pivotal summit in New Delhi on Friday. Marking Putin's first visit to India in four years, the Indian government extended a warm welcome with grand ceremonies. This meeting underscores both nations' intent to uphold their longstanding partnership amid growing pressures from Western nations.

During the discussions, Modi conveyed India's support for peaceful resolutions regarding the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing that India is not neutral but advocates for meaningful dialogue to amend the situation. Putin expressed gratitude for Modi's commitment to peace, noting prior discussions about collaborative efforts with multiple partners, including the United States.

A key focus of Putin's visit is enhancing trade relations. Russia aims to boost imports of Indian products, setting a target of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. Currently, trade leans heavily in favor of Russia, primarily due to India's substantial purchases of discounted Russian oil since Western nations shifted their stance post-Ukraine conflict. Nonetheless, U.S. tariffs and sanctions have led India to limit some oil imports this year.

Additionally, the leaders explored defense collaboration, with Russia being India's foremost arms supplier for years. Both parties aspire to deepen engagement in various sectors, including technology, aviation, space, nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence. Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, leading a significant delegation, affirmed Russia's readiness to support India in enhancing defense manufacturing capabilities.

Pavel Putin received a ceremonious welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier that day, complete with a 21-gun salute, and shared a ride with Modi following a private dinner the previous evening. Anticipated outcomes from these formal talks include several agreements, one of which is likely to involve partnerships between Indian firms and Russia's Uralchem to develop a urea production facility. Moreover, major Russian banks, including Gazprombank and Alfa Bank, seek permission to operate in India to facilitate trade.

Discussions during the summit also shed light on ongoing geopolitical tensions. In a pre-summit interview, Putin scrutinized the U.S. stance of cautioning India against purchasing Russian oil while it itself continues to buy Russian nuclear fuel. He posited that if the U.S. can buy Russian fuel, India deserves the same freedom. India, for its part, has criticized U.S. tariffs as unjust, especially given that Western countries maintain trade ties with Moscow when advantageous.

This situation presents challenges for India. Analysts suggest that the country must delicately balance its relationships with both Russia and the United States, aware that favoring one could aggravate the other. This dilemma has intensified since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. Rather than condemning Russia outright, India has advocated for peace and diplomatic methods while concurrently enhancing its strategic collaboration with Washington, particularly in technology and defense sectors.

Putin’s visit notably follows his discussions with U.S. envoys concerning potential peace strategies for Ukraine. Although no agreements emerged, the timing of this trip to India indicates New Delhi's significance to Moscow. As global dynamics evolve rapidly, India regards its alliance with Russia as crucial to its long-term strategy while simultaneously fortifying relations with Western nations.

This New Delhi summit further illustrates the ongoing partnership between India and Russia, with both leaders seemingly committed to reinforcing their bonds while navigating global pressures and intricate international politics.

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