Photo: EPA
Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods to punish New Delhi for its close ties with Russia
Russian leader Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for his first state visit to India since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscoring a renewed warmth in relations between the two countries, Bloomberg reports.
On Thursday, December 4, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi greeted Putin at the New Delhi airport, embracing him once again before hosting a dinner at his residence.
Posters of Putin were displayed at major intersections across the capital, and Russian and Indian flags lined the main avenues. The two countries maintain long-standing ties dating back to the Soviet era and the Cold War.
India is rolling out the red carpet for the Kremlin leader despite efforts by leading Western democracies to turn him into an international pariah. The stakes are high for Modi, who is seeking to assert India’s strategic autonomy after U.S. president Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods to punish New Delhi for its deepening relationship with Moscow.
“Friendship between India and Russia has stood the test of time and benefited our peoples,” Modi wrote on X.
Putin is expected to highlight these ties — especially in oil and defense — during his two-day visit. Ahead of the trip, officials worked on a deal under which India would pay around $2 billion to lease a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia, following more than a decade of negotiations.
“For India, this is a chance to show that despite pressure from the Trump administration, Modi can defend his position. It shows he can shape foreign policy based on India’s needs — namely, maintaining stable, functional relations with Russia,” said international relations professor Harsh Pant.
Moscow and New Delhi have focused heavily on trade, though energy and defense are expected to dominate the leaders’ talks. Since 2022, the two countries have become top-five trading partners, with India sharply increasing purchases of Russian oil.
On Friday, December 5, Putin is set to receive an official welcome followed by bilateral talks with Modi. Both leaders are also expected to address Indian and Russian business executives to encourage expanded trade and investment.
India is seeking greater access to the Russian market for its exporters, who have been hit by U.S. tariffs, and a deal on seafood and agricultural supplies is likely. The two sides are also expected to sign a mobility agreement allowing Indian professionals to work in Russia.
At the same time, the Modi government is pursuing a trade deal with the United States — India’s largest export market. Trump said last month the two sides were close to an agreement, signaling a potential thaw in relations. A U.S. delegation led by deputy trade representative Rick Switzer is due to visit India next week.
With a more isolationist U.S. under Trump and relations with China still strained, India is working to deepen ties with Russia, Japan, the UAE and the EU, said Pramit Pal Chaudhuri of Eurasia Group.
“India is helped by the fact that president Trump has already ended Putin’s exile status by holding a summit with him in Alaska,” the analyst noted.
As Bloomberg previously wrote, Putin’s visit will test New Delhi’s ability to balance its relations between the U.S. and Russia.
Ahead of the trip, the German, French and British ambassadors to India published a joint op-ed in local media criticizing Putin for his war against Ukraine.
