India-Russia Talks: Strengthening Bilateral Ties Amid Geopolitical Challenges

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Russia next week for talks with President Vladimir Putin, as announced by India’s foreign ministry. The visit, which will take place for two days starting on Monday at the invitation of Mr. Putin, aims to review the developing bilateral ties between the two countries and discuss various regional and global issues.

Russia had previously indicated that the visit was likely to occur in July, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing it as “very important.” The main agenda of the discussions will include trade and economic cooperation, as well as other areas of cooperation that both countries are keen to develop with mutual political will.

It is noteworthy that Mr. Modi last visited Russia in 2019 for an economic forum held in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. India, being the world’s third-largest crude consumer, plays a significant role in the global energy market and is a major buyer of Russian oil. In fact, in 2021, India increased its purchase of Russian oil more than 20 times due to discounts offered amid Western energy restrictions.

Despite ongoing conflict in Ukraine and resulting tensions between Russia and the West, India has maintained a neutral stance on the matter. While refraining from publicly criticizing Mr. Putin’s actions, India has been striving to balance its relationships with both Russia and Western nations. In light of Russia’s efforts to strengthen partnerships and avoid isolation on the global stage, Mr. Putin has been engaging in visits to various countries recently including North Korea and Vietnam where he signed a security deal with North Korea indicating Russia’s broad strategy to maintain international ties despite challenges it faces due to its actions in Ukraine.