Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a summit visit to New Delhi this week, meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marked Putin's initial visit to India since the commencement of the conflict in Ukraine. The discussions occurred while the United States has been urging Indian entities to reduce purchases of Russian oil to maintain business ties with the U.S.
In August, President Trump implemented 50% tariffs on a majority of Indian goods. This action was justified by arguments that India's acquisition of Russian oil contributed to the financing of the war in Ukraine. Additionally, India did not publicly acknowledge a reported role played by President Trump in resolving a recent border dispute between India and Pakistan.
Prime Minister Modi is navigating a complex diplomatic situation, balancing India's established strategic partnership with Russia, which serves as India's primary arms supplier, against its economic relationship with the United States, India's largest commercial partner. India adheres to a policy termed "multialignment," asserting its capacity to maintain friendly relations with various nations without selecting exclusive alliances.
Professor Sumit Ganguly, Director of the Huntington Program at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, provided analysis on the visit. He stated that both Russia and India have current mutual interests. Putin's engagement with India is seen as an effort to mitigate international isolation, particularly from Western countries. India's current foreign policy stance, including its engagement with Russia, is partly influenced by recent tensions with the United States, such as the tariff imposition and perceived lack of recognition for US diplomatic efforts. Professor Ganguly characterized Russia's approach to India as primarily transactional.
Regarding the future trajectory of U.S.-India relations, Professor Ganguly indicated that the relationship maintains a functional working status, having received bipartisan support over the past two to three decades. Key foundations include a substantial and successful Indian diaspora in the United States and significant Indian purchases of U.S. military equipment, totaling over $20 billion in the last two decades. Despite current challenges and differing perspectives between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, Professor Ganguly projected that the relationship is unlikely to become "completely sterile" in the near future.