What Did Putin Achieve on His India Visit?

 The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi marked Putin's first official visit to India since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. Amidst attempts by Western countries to diplomatically isolate Russia, India's warm reception for the Russian leader captured global attention. Prime Minister Modi's personal welcome at the airport, embracing Putin, was a significant event that showcased the strong friendship between the two nations.

Throughout the visit, India extended the highest state honors to Putin, evidenced by the ceremonial reception at the Presidential Palace and the cannon salute. Russian media reported that this reception for the Russian leader in a 340-room palace sent a strong message that India pursues an independent foreign policy despite Western pressure.

Further strengthening the "special and privileged strategic partnership" between the two countries, several important agreements were signed concerning economic cooperation, mineral resource supply chains, and pharmaceutical production. Notably, an agreement was reached to build a Russian-Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Russia's Kaluga region, and the Kremlin-controlled television network "Russia Today" was launched in India.

However, no major defense deals were concluded during this visit, and no official announcements were made regarding the purchase of state-of-the-art fighter jets or air defense systems. Critics suggest this could be due to Russia's limited defense resources following the Ukraine war and delays in delivering existing orders.

Oil trade was a central topic of these discussions, with President Putin emphasizing Russia's readiness to continuously supply oil to India without interruption, even amidst tariff pressures from the American Donald Trump administration. However, the absence of a new specific agreement on oil purchases suggests that India is attempting to maintain a delicate balance between Washington and Moscow.

The leaders also discussed a five-year economic framework aimed at increasing trade between the two countries from the current level of $68.72 billion to $100 billion. Furthermore, Memoranda of Understanding were reached to expand cooperation in the naval sector, including shipbuilding and training Indian sailors for operations in polar waters.

In addition to the official discussions, the unofficial dinner between the two leaders was highlighted by Russian foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov as the most important moment of the visit. He stated that more sensitive and urgent political matters were discussed during this private meeting, and that real political decisions are made on such occasions.