India Seeks Balanced Ties with Russia and West Amid Putin’s Visit

The Hindu, an Indian daily, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to New Delhi marks a new chapter in India-Russia relations, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership. According to the report, the visit comes at a time when Western nations are attempting to isolate Russia and its senior leadership. Nevertheless, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm welcome of Putin in the capital is seen as a clear signal that while India supports the peace process in Ukraine, it is also committed to maintaining a balanced relationship with Moscow.

The Hindu added that India and Russia unveiled a new roadmap aimed at enhancing economic cooperation. This includes plans to expand bilateral trade, facilitate maritime corridors, and establish new payment systems using national currencies—moves designed to help the two countries circumvent Western sanctions.

Despite announcing these initiatives, the visit did not result in any new agreements on critical sectors such as defense, nuclear energy, or space cooperation. This omission suggests that the Indian government is mindful of Western scrutiny and is striving to strike a balance between its ties with Russia and its strategic relations with the United States and the European Union amid ongoing geopolitical rivalries.