India’s tough balancing act

The recent visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to India, keenly watched in Washington and European capitals, was high on optics but also entailed a tough balancing act for India.

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For Putin, Prime Minister Narendra Modis airport welcome, with a warm hug and a handshake, and the ride with the PM to his residence for a private dinner, was a win-win, given his pariah status in Europe and the West following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. For Modi, it was a reassertion of India’s independent foreign policy in the wake of the US imposing high tariffs on Indian goods for importing Russian oil. During the course of Putin's state visit to India, 16 pacts were signed on issues such as shipbuilding, critical minerals, logistics corridors, pharmaceuticals, civil nuclear cooperation, and a labour mobility agreement. A programme for developing strategic areas of economic cooperation until 2030 was decided on, as was a 30-day free tourist visa for Russian nationals. The two sides also pl