Few bilateral relationships carry the strategic weight of India–Russia ties today. Putin’s December visit, the first since the Ukraine war, comes amid renewed scrutiny of India’s defence posture after Operation Sindoor. Even as New Delhi diversifies partners and faces U.S. pressure, Russian systems, from BrahMos to the S-400, continue to anchor its military capabilities, underscoring a partnership that is changing but far from fading.
India-Russia ties have been in the limelight for some time now. One reason is the tirade by US President Trump over India’s oil purchases from Russia. The other is the defence cooperation in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the ongoing crisis in the Indian Air Force (IAF). In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India—the first since the war in Ukraine—in the first week of December was significant. For Putin, it is a visit to a major power and a close partner that stood by with its neutrality, and a balancing factor to Russia’s increasing dependence on China. For India, Russia remains a key security partner, especially given the elevated threat from China and Pakistan and the deteriorating security situation in the neighbourhood. The current friction with the U.S. and the uncertainty have only reinforced why Russia is an important anchor in India’s multi-alignment and its quest for strategic autonomy.