India and Russia: Stronger Bonds Amid Global Tensions

In a show of unity, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met during a regional summit in China. Their talk happened after they attended a key session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin.

A Significant Meeting

This meeting is important because India and the U. S. are not getting along well right now, mostly because India is buying oil from Russia.

• Modi called the partnership with Russia "special and privileged."
• Putin referred to Modi as a "dear friend" and praised the strong, friendly, and trusting relationship between their countries.
• Putin plans to visit India in December for their annual summit.

Discussions on Peace and Trade

During the summit, Modi talked about ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, saying it's important to find a solution for peace.

• Putin brought a large group of officials, and before their formal meeting, he and Modi had a private chat in Putin's Russian-made limousine.
• The scene was quite friendly, with Modi and Putin laughing and chatting, and Chinese President Xi Jinping joining in.

U. S. Tensions and India's Energy Needs

This meeting is even more important because the U. S. recently increased tariffs on Indian imports to 50% as a punishment for India's Russian oil purchases.

• The U. S. says these purchases help fund Russia's war in Ukraine, but India says it needs the oil to meet its energy needs.
• Analysts say the U. S.'s actions are pushing India closer to China and Russia.

Strengthening Economic Ties

• India and Russia have had strong ties since the Cold War, and these ties have grown stronger since the war in Ukraine.
• China and India are now key buyers of Russian oil, as the West has shunned Russian exports.
• India used to get most of its oil from the Middle East, but now it's buying a lot from Russia at discounted rates.
• Russia now makes up about 37% of India's total oil imports.
• Trade between India and Russia has increased, reaching a record $68.7 billion in the 2024-25 financial year.
• The two nations want to boost this trade to $100 billion by 2030.

India's Strategic Position

Modi's meeting with Putin shows that India values its old and reliable partners and has the freedom to maintain and strengthen its relationships. At the same time, the Indian government hopes that the current tension with the U. S. is just a temporary issue.