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India-Russia summit: Why the world’s largest democracy is keeping Putin close

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India-Russia summit: Why the world’s largest democracy is keeping Putin close

On his first trip to Russia since the war in Ukraine began, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi treated Russian President Vladimir Putin as if they were old friends – which their nations are.

For decades, India has relied on Russia for military equipment. Today, India’s warmth toward Russia helps ensure India receives a supply of cheap oil as Moscow faces sanctions from the West. During the summit, Mr. Modi and Mr. Putin agreed to boost bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, announced the opening of two new Indian consulates in Russia, and discussed the need for peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine. 

Why We Wrote This

India-Russia ties seem as strong as ever after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin spent two days together in Moscow. But for India, experts say, the trip was really about asserting independence.

Western powers want India –  the world’s largest democracy and an increasingly important U.S. ally in Asia – to be tougher on Russia. But experts say the United States grudgingly accepts the relationship, which helps counterbalance China’s power. 

It also serves Mr. Modi’s ambitions to raise India’s profile as a global leader and meet other economic and security goals.

“Overall, [the trip] just underlines the fact that India will decide its relationships on the basis of its national interest, and it’s not going to be swayed by pressures from other powers,” says Nandan Unnikrishnan from Observer Research Foundation, a think tank in Delhi.

On his first trip to Russia since the war in Ukraine began, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin in one of his signature bear hugs. 

The embrace outraged many. India celebrates being the world’s largest democracy, and is an increasingly important U.S. ally in Asia. But other than Mr. Modi’s veiled criticism of Russia’s attack on a ​​children’s hospital in Kyiv that occurred before his arrival on Monday, the two leaders got on like old friends – which their nations are. 

India has long relied on Russia for military equipment, and today, India’s warmth toward Russia helps ensure a supply of cheap coal, oil, and fertilizer for the country of 1.4 billion.

Why We Wrote This

India-Russia ties seem as strong as ever after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin spent two days together in Moscow. But for India, experts say, the trip was really about asserting independence.

While India’s Western allies want Delhi to be tougher on Russia, experts say the United States accepts the relationship.

Pankaj Saran, former deputy national security adviser of India, says that over the past 70 years, the India-Russia relationship has powered through difficult times. The U.S. concern over India’s closeness with Russia has only been a challenge for the last two years.

“It is not as if there is anything secret about the relationship” between Delhi and Moscow, says Mr. Saran, who was India’s envoy to Russia from 2016 to 2018. “The Americans understand that the Indians are getting the discounted oil,” and that India isn’t Russia’s only potential ally in Asia. 

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