A new special-report traces how Putin’s enduring presence on the global stage spanning successive Indian governments has helped anchor the long-standing diplomatic bond between his country and India.
A long-standing strategic bond
The story begins in October 2000, when Putin and then-Prime Minister Vajpayee signed the original “Strategic Partnership” declaration a milestone that elevated India–Russia ties from ad-hoc cooperation to a deeper, future-oriented alliance.
Continuity despite changing political phases in India
Under former PM Manmohan Singh and other successive governments, ties with Russia remained strong: defence deals, nuclear cooperation, and institutional frameworks (like the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission) ensured steady engagement.
Since 2014, under Narendra Modi, the partnership has adapted to new global challenges yet retained its core: strategic trust, defence cooperation, energy security and growing economic/trade links.
What keeps the bond resilient Modi
According to analysts quoted in the report and recent diplomatic communiques:
Institutional continuity frameworks like the Inter-governmental Commission and regular high-level summits keep dialogue active, regardless of who is in power in New Delhi or Moscow.
Strategic necessity defence collaboration, energy security oil, nuclear cooperation, and technology/industrial cooperation make the partnership “pragmatic and indispensable.”
Shared geopolitical vision in a shifting world order as global power dynamics shift, India and Russia view their partnership as a pillar of a multipolar world, offering strategic autonomy.
What’s ahead Modi 2025 visit & renewed global context
This comes ahead of Putin’s 2025 visit to India his first since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Observers say this moment may redefine India–Russia ties in a more turbulent geopolitical era, testing whether the decades-long bond can evolve into a 21st-century strategic partnership resilient to sanctions, global pressure and shifting alliances.
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