Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Russia in early July, this comes at a pivotal moment as bilateral trade between the two nations has reached unprecedented levels. The Kremlin announced that Modi will visit Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking his first foreign trip since assuming office for a third term. Although the exact dates remain under wraps, they will be jointly announced soon.
This visit holds particular significance as it is a standalone state visit. The two leaders will have another opportunity to meet later this year during the BRICS summit in Kazan. The Russian president extended the invitation to Modi when Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Russia in December 2023. Putin expressed optimism about the meeting, emphasizing the chance to discuss current issues and the future of Russian-Indian relations.
Historically, India and Russia share a deep-rooted and multifaceted cooperation that dates back to the Cold War era. For over seven decades, this relationship has flourished, with defense being a cornerstone of their partnership. Russia remained India’s primary supplier of military equipment for decades, and their collaboration includes joint research and development of defense technologies. Notable examples of this cooperation are the BrahMos supersonic missile system and the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet.
In addition to defense, the economic and energy sectors are significant areas of India-Russia cooperation. The two countries are major trading partners, collaborating on projects related to oil and gas exploration, power generation, and even space exploration. This robust economic partnership underpins their strategic alliance, making it a vital component of their bilateral relations.
Science and technology form another crucial pillar of the India-Russia partnership. They engage in joint projects across various scientific fields, encompassing both fundamental research and practical applications. This exchange fosters innovation and knowledge sharing, further cementing their collaboration.
The cooperation between India and Russia extends beyond their bilateral ties to various international platforms. They actively work together within the United Nations, the G20 economic forum, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This multilateral collaboration reflects their shared vision for a balanced global order and enhances their influence on the international stage.
The last significant bilateral meeting occurred in December 2021, when Putin visited New Delhi. The leaders also met during the September 2022 SCO summit in Samarkand. Modi’s previous visit to Russia was in 2019 for the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Despite these formal meetings, Modi and Putin maintain regular communication via telephone. Recently, Putin called Modi to congratulate him on his party’s success in the parliamentary election, and Modi reciprocated earlier this year after Putin won his fifth term as president. These interactions underscore the strong personal rapport between the two leaders.
The India-Russia relationship has withstood external scrutiny, particularly from the US and its allies over the Ukraine conflict. In 2023, trade between the two countries surged to a record $65 billion, driven largely by Indian imports of coal and oil. This economic resilience highlights the robustness of their ties.
India has also positioned itself carefully regarding the Ukraine conflict. Earlier this month, India distanced itself from a document issued at the Ukraine summit in Switzerland that outlined Vladimir Zelensky’s ‘peace formula,’ which was rejected by Russia. New Delhi emphasized that only solutions acceptable to “both parties” can achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. During a meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, Modi reiterated India’s belief in a human-centric approach, advocating for peace through dialogue and diplomacy.
Modi’s visit to Moscow coincides with US efforts to deepen engagement with New Delhi following his recent electoral victory. Shortly after he assumed office, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited India and signed several agreements, including one to prevent the leakage of sensitive technologies. Additionally, US President Joe Biden met with Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit, The US aims to distance India from Russia but has failed significantly over the years.
In summary, Modi’s visit to Russia not only reaffirms the strong historical ties between India and Russia but also emphasizes their multifaceted cooperation in defense, economic, energy, and scientific sectors. Their collaboration on international platforms like the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO further reflects their shared vision for the global order. Despite recent geopolitical challenges, this enduring partnership continues to play a significant role in shaping both Asian and global security architectures.