Putin’s visit to India has put the spotlight on New Delhi’s evolving defence strategy as it seeks to modernise Russian-made systems with domestic production. At the same time, India is carefully navigating its ties with the U.S. and Europe ahead of key diplomatic visits.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day state visit to India on 4-5 December, his first since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, focused on strengthening defence, trade, and energy cooperation.
Speaking on the AnewZ's Daybreak program from India, geopolitical and geoeconomics analyst Umesh Kumar explained that India, historically reliant on Russian arms, is now producing key technology domestically to meet its own defence needs while also exporting components to Russia and its traditional buyers.
“While major announcements about systems such as the S-400, S-500, or Sukhoi 57 were expected, these were avoided, likely due to ongoing negotiations with the United States on trade matters,” he added.
During the visit, India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to broad cooperation across politics, security, economics, energy, education, and culture.
“Equally important is that Russia and India are working hand in hand to establish a just, multipolar world order,” Putin said, emphasising the shared vision of both countries in global affairs.
At the same time, India remains cautious, balancing its strategic partnership with Russia while pursuing trade talks with the U.S., including efforts to reduce punitive tariffs linked to its purchases of Russian oil.
Meanwhile, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to visit India next month as the chief guest for Republic Day.
According to Indian local media, this marks the first time that the European Union’s top leadership has been invited to India’s Republic Day celebrations, thus signalling a new level of strategic and diplomatic engagement between India and the EU.
The analyst believes that India’s approach: strengthening domestic defence production, supporting Russia’s traditional defence customers through component supply, and deepening trade ties, positions it as a strategic and reliable partner on the global stage.
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European leaders gathered in Yerevan on 4–5 May for the European Political Community (EPC) summit and the first EU–Armenia summit, placing the South Caucasus and its fragile peace process at the centre of regional diplomacy.
A senior European Parliament figure has criticised remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggesting Turkish influence could threaten Europe.
Nations and organisations and Beirut react positively to the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Lebanese authorities negotiated the pause with Israel after an historic meeting on Tuesday in the U.S with President Donald Trump making the announcement on Thursday 16 April.
Despite its economic might, the European Union is often labelled a “geopolitical dwarf.” The only region where it acts as an indisputable player, able to assert its will with relative ease, is the Western Balkans, along with parts of Eastern Europe.
Kuwait arrested four members of an IRGC-linked group as they tried to enter the country by sea, the Gulf state's KUNA news agency reported on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a senior IRGC officer said Iran had expanded its definition of the Strait of Hormuz to include a far wider area.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal as a “stupid proposal,” saying Tehran failed to commit to abandoning its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, while warning the fragile ceasefire was on “massive life support”.
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.
Afghanistan has signed a five-year gold mining contract with Afghan and Azerbaijani companies in a deal worth more than $20m, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has said.
Senior officials from China and Uzbekistan met in Beijing this week for talks on trade, infrastructure and bilateral cooperation, underscoring a relationship that has continued to deepen steadily in recent years.
Senior economic officials from China and the U.S. are holding two days of trade talks in Seoul this week ahead of a summit in Beijing, where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to meet face to face for the first time this year.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer laid down the gauntlet to challengers on Tuesday (12 May), as he defied calls to resign at a meeting of Cabinet, telling ministers that there had been no official move to trigger a leadership contest.
Malaysia's Maritime Enforcement Agency has launched a search and rescue operation for 14 people missing at sea after a wooden boat, strongly believed to be illegally transporting undocumented Indonesian migrants, capsized and sank off the country's western coast on Monday morning.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 12th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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