Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, receiving a warm welcome from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremonial reception. The summit, scheduled for Friday, will focus on defence, trade, and energy cooperation against the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine war and rising US trade pressure.
At the start of the talks, Putin expressed optimism for a “fruitful” meeting, citing an agenda that includes defence, technology, aircraft, and space exploration. Modi highlighted the long-standing India-Russia partnership, sharing images of the leaders together on social media and emphasizing the benefits of their enduring bilateral relationship.
Indian officials confirmed that the summit agenda will cover defence agreements, energy cooperation, and labor mobility initiatives. While India maintains strong ties with Russia, analysts caution that the visit could complicate relations with the European Union and the United States, potentially affecting critical trade negotiations.
In August, US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil. India remains the world’s second-largest importer of Russian crude after China. Despite ambitions to finalize trade agreements with both the US and the EU, progress has slowed amid these geopolitical tensions.
Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the summit as a “strategic tightrope walk” for India, balancing its historic partnership with Russia against its growing desire to strengthen ties with the United States.
The visit carries symbolic weight, signaling that both India and Russia are committed to their bilateral relationship despite external pressures. Key topics expected for discussion include the sale of Russian S-400 air defence systems, Sukhoi Su-57 fighter aircraft, energy cooperation, and broader economic engagement.
Source: The guardian.com
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments