A Bond Of Trust

 

 

 

A FULL-SCALE unlocking of bilateral trade ties between two of its ‘on-and-off friends’ is set to tingle nerves in the United States when Russian President Vladimir Putin begins his two-day India visit on Thursday. In the evening of 2025, this bilateral between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being keenly watched by many powers as well as aspiring powers as the Indo-Russian trajectory is slated to define future geopolitics. Coming at a crucial period of the trade deal negotiations between India and the US, the Putin-Modi bear-hug might become a handy weapon for New Delhi to redraw some red lines and recalibrate some deep relations. Projecting Russia as a time-tested partner has remained the leitmotif for India in the passing year in wake of the drastic changes in American foreign policy that singled out New Delhi as an “adversary”.

 

Targeted for purchase of Russian oil and defying Washington’s diktats, India has been betting big on the historic relations with Russia. Despite the presence of China in the room, India has done extremely well to keep all channels open by putting faith in strong bilateral relations with Russia. The Putin-Modi summit should act as concretisation of that bond which did pass through a lull before a reset brought India back into the power-game in Eurasia. Putin’s visit to India after four years will mark restoration of regular Indo-Russian summits. Since the military conflict with Ukraine broke out, the Russian President has hardly travelled around. Though Putin-Modi bilateral talks happened last year in Moscow and Kazan, the car-pooling of the two leaders during the SCO summit in Tianjin in September this year acted as a throttle to the ride which has endured the bumps created by US President Donald Trump’s tyranny. Both Putin and Modi have stood up to Trump’s bullying without sounding adamant. This posturing has kept the US strongman guessing and at the same time has given India and Russia an open platform to forge partnerships in sectors that are sure to propel future international powers.

 

The extensive agenda for the summit explains the significance of the meeting. The Russian Parliament has already okayed a defence pact with India. On the discussion table in New Delhi will be potential deals in energy, critical minerals, nuclear plants and investment projects. For India, it will be a great step ahead to match its image of a growing economy. A partnership with Russia to explore critical sectors can open a world of opportunity for India to equip itself and be ready for the next transition when powers like the US and United Kingdom are likely to face the consequences of their reckless economic and foreign policies. This is a timely chance for India to bring out its policy of multilateralism into effect and make wise choices. It is one message Prime Minister Narendra Modi must deliver to the United States without batting an eyelid. India’s delicate balancing act after the Russia-Ukraine war has given it a firm footing in pursuing its developmental agenda.

 

The war in Ukraine turned out to be a real test for India’s diplomacy. It was a serious challenge to keep a balanced position while retaining mutually beneficial partnerships with both Russia and Ukraine. New Delhi wisely took the approach of keeping low-key interactions with Russia while vigorously pitching for dialogue as the best solution to end the war. The neutral strategy helped India tide over the tensions between Russia and West as it put national interests first by continuing purchase of Russian crude oil and acting as a peacemaker between the two warring neighbours. This approach has handed India a position of strength while choosing its trade and defence partners, something New Delhi is deftly pursuing with the United States too. Now has come the time to pronounce that India values its strong ties with Russia without caring for the biased opinions of the West. The trade deal with the US will automatically take care of itself. Russia has remained India’s most trusted ally in times of crisis. From backing New Delhi’s positions on international platforms to providing military help during armed conflicts, Moscow has been India’s go-to option for decades. Russian-made S-400 missile system was at the centre of India’s spectacular success against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. That purchase was facilitated by crossing the red lines set by the US for nations making defence deals with Russia. It proved a gamechanger in the limited conflict with Pakistan. The success of S-400 has made America sit up and realise that amid the tariff onslaught and penalty on purchase of Russian crude oil, India has quietly re-engaged with the Russian defence sector. It is seen as a vote of confidence for Russian arms when the US is browbeating the world to sign contracts with its defence manufacturers. The Putin-Modi summit will put an official stamp on the re-engagement, signalling revival of an axis that the US thought had faded away. For India, the narrative of Russia being a trusted and time-tested partner suits the foreign policy. It signals to the world that India’s relations with its traditional allies remain insulated from external factors. India does need the US as an important partner but recent controversies and specific targeting by US officials and their cohorts managing top financial and security institutions have massively eroded trust in the relationship. It is extremely important for New Delhi to stay by the side of a partner who can be trusted in all seasons. The Russian President’s visit therefore holds great significance in delivering a message to Trump that India does not buckle under pressure.