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Putin’s renewed offer to jointly manufacture Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter
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Moscow reaffirms strategic ties with New Delhi through defence, energy and economic cooperation
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Trade volumes have surged to nearly $60 billion, expected to cross $100 billion in the coming years
By R Chandrakanth
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent remarks praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and reiterating Moscow’s commitment to deeper defence and economic cooperation have once again underscored the resilience of the India-Russia relationship in an increasingly polarised world order.
At a time when geopolitical fault lines are deepening over the Ukraine conflict and major powers are recalibrating alliances, Putin’s comments carry significance far beyond diplomatic niceties. They signal Russia’s continued determination to preserve one of its most important strategic partnerships even as global pressure mounts on nations to choose sides.
The remarks also come ahead of Putin’s expected visit to India later this year for the BRICS Summit, where he is likely to hold extensive bilateral discussions with Modi on security, trade, energy and emerging global challenges.
India’s Strategic Autonomy Remains Intact
The backdrop to Putin’s comments is India’s steadfast refusal to abandon its long-standing policy of strategic autonomy despite sustained pressure from Western capitals following Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
New Delhi has maintained robust economic and defence engagements with Moscow while simultaneously strengthening partnerships with the United States, Europe, Japan and other Indo-Pacific nations.
Responding to Putin’s observations, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India’s foreign policy continues to be guided by established principles.
“As far as India’s foreign policy is concerned, you are all aware of its key pillars. There has been no change in those core pillars,” he said during the weekly media briefing.
The statement reflects India’s carefully balanced diplomatic approach, engaging multiple power centres without allowing any relationship to become exclusive or restrictive.
Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter
Perhaps the most consequential aspect of Putin’s remarks was his renewed offer to jointly develop and manufacture the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft with India. According to the Russian President, Moscow had earlier proposed a collaborative programme and remains willing to revive the initiative without restrictions.
The proposal comes at a critical juncture as India evaluates future air power requirements amid growing military competition in Asia. The Su-57, Russia’s most advanced combat aircraft, could potentially complement India’s indigenous fighter development programmes and help bridge capability gaps.
While the Ministry of External Affairs refrained from commenting on the specifics, directing queries to the Ministry of Defence, Putin’s statement is being viewed as a signal that Russia remains prepared to share high-end military technologies with India, a privilege Moscow extends to very few countries.
Economic Partnership Gathering Momentum
Beyond defence, Putin highlighted India’s remarkable economic growth under Modi’s leadership, describing the country as one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has expanded dramatically in recent years, driven largely by India’s increased purchases of discounted Russian crude oil following Western sanctions on Moscow. Russia remains India’s largest crude oil supplier, although volumes have fluctuated because of sanctions, refinery maintenance, geopolitical disruptions and India’s diversification efforts. In April 2026, Russia supplied about 1.6 million barrels per day (mbpd) of crude oil to India, making it India’s top supplier.
Trade volumes have surged to nearly $60 billion, with both governments expressing confidence that the figure could cross $100 billion in the coming years.
Energy cooperation remains a central pillar of the relationship. Putin specifically referred to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, one of the largest symbols of Indo-Russian cooperation, and indicated that collaboration in the civil nuclear sector could expand further.
Russia also continues to be a significant investor in strategic sectors of the Indian economy, including energy, infrastructure and manufacturing.
A Partnership Tested but Not Broken
The India-Russia relationship has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to withstand major geopolitical upheavals.
Unlike many Cold War-era partnerships that weakened after the collapse of the Soviet Union, ties between New Delhi and Moscow adapted to changing global realities and retained strategic relevance.
For India, Russia remains a trusted defence supplier and a reliable partner in critical technologies. For Russia, India represents a major Asian power that pursues an independent foreign policy and provides access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets.
The Ukraine conflict tested this relationship more than any event in recent decades. Yet India resisted Western pressure to isolate Moscow, instead advocating dialogue and diplomacy while continuing trade and strategic engagement.
That balancing act has enhanced India’s reputation as an independent actor rather than a participant in bloc politics.
A Historical Perspective
The foundations of India-Russia relations were laid during the Soviet era when Moscow emerged as one of New Delhi’s most dependable strategic partners.
The relationship gained momentum after the 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation, signed at a time when India faced intense geopolitical pressure during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Over the decades, Soviet and later Russian support extended across defence, space, nuclear energy, heavy industry and scientific research.
Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, successive governments in both countries ensured continuity in strategic cooperation. Today, the partnership is officially described as a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”
Russia’s Defence Contribution to India
Russia remains India’s largest historical defence partner. A substantial portion of India’s military inventory traces its origins to Soviet and Russian platforms, including MiG and Sukhoi fighter aircraft; T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks; Kilo-class submarines; Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya; S-400 Triumf air defence systems; BrahMos supersonic cruise missile programme, developed jointly by India and Russia. India has nuclear submarine leasing arrangements which has helped in strengthening underwater capabilities.
Perhaps most importantly, Russia has often been willing to transfer technology and support indigenous manufacturing initiatives, a factor that has differentiated it from several Western suppliers.
The Modi-Putin Equation
Personal chemistry between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin has emerged as an important stabilising factor in bilateral relations. The two leaders have met frequently through bilateral visits and multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Putin has repeatedly described India as a trusted friend and strategic partner, while Modi has maintained regular engagement with the Russian leader even during periods of intense international scrutiny. Their relationship reflects a pragmatic understanding that national interests, rather than ideological alignment, drive modern diplomacy.
This personal rapport has helped maintain continuity in bilateral ties despite shifting global dynamics and increasing competition among major powers.
Russia, Pakistan and the Strategic Balance
Historically, Russia has often been viewed in India as a counterweight to strategic alignments involving the United States and Pakistan during different phases of the Cold War and post-Cold War periods.
During the Cold War, Washington’s close military relationship with Pakistan frequently created security concerns in New Delhi. Moscow’s support helped offset some of those pressures by providing military equipment, diplomatic backing and strategic reassurance.
The contemporary situation is more nuanced. Russia today maintains limited engagement with Pakistan, including defence contacts and regional consultations. However, its relationship with Islamabad remains significantly less substantial than its partnership with India.
For New Delhi, Russia continues to serve as an important strategic balancer by ensuring India retains diversified defence sourcing, reducing excessive dependence on any single power bloc and preserving room for independent decision-making in global affairs.
As global geopolitics moves toward a more fragmented and multipolar order, the enduring India-Russia partnership appears set to remain an important pillar of New Delhi’s foreign policy architecture, even as India simultaneously deepens ties with the United States and other Western powers.
