Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, aiming to enhance trade with Russia’s leading buyer of arms and seaborne oil, as Western sanctions continue to pressure their long-standing relationship.
This marks Putin's first visit to India in four years, at a time when New Delhi is negotiating with the U.S. over a trade deal to reduce the punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Indian goods in response to India's purchase of Russian oil.
For decades, Moscow has been India's primary arms supplier and has expressed its desire to import more Indian goods as part of efforts to grow bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. The trade has thus far been heavily skewed in Russia's favour, owing to India's energy imports.
Since European nations reduced their reliance on Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, India has significantly increased its purchase of discounted Russian crude oil.
"India faces a dilemma: by strengthening ties with Moscow or Washington, New Delhi risks damaging its relationship with the other," Michael Kugelman, senior fellow at Washington's Atlantic Council, wrote this week in Foreign Policy magazine.
Modi and Putin are also expected to discuss other issues, including labour and civil nuclear energy, with both sides likely to announce new agreements that underscore the resilience of their relationship.
Hugs and Handshakes
Upon his arrival at an airport near New Delhi on Thursday, Putin was greeted by Modi with a hug and handshake as he walked down the red carpet for his two-day visit. Later, Modi hosted the Russian president for a private dinner at his residence.
Accompanying Putin on his visit is a business and government delegation, including Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, who held talks with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, on Thursday.
Belousov "stated that the Russian defence industry is ready to support India in its efforts to become self-reliant in defence production," according to India's defence ministry following the talks.
Putin arrived in India just one day after meeting with Trump's top envoys to discuss a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, although no agreement was reached.
India has resisted condemning Russia over the conflict, advocating for peace through dialogue and diplomacy, while asserting that its ties with Moscow are being unfairly targeted by Western nations, which continue to do business with Russia when it serves their interests.
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