Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in India on a two-day state visit from December 4-5, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday. During the visit, he will participate in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Amid fast-changing global strategic equations, Putin’s visit is seen as a strong geopolitical message, especially to the United States, President Donald Trump and Pakistan, reaffirming that India and Russia continue to stand firmly together. The partnership, officials emphasise, is built not on compulsion but on long-standing mutual respect and trust.
The visit comes at a time when New Delhi is expanding defence cooperation with the United States, France and Japan, while also navigating a complex global environment.
What’s at stake during Putin’s India visit?
1. Air defence deal: Will S-500 be on the table?
For decades, India has heavily relied on Moscow for military equipment. However, its defence procurement pattern has shifted significantly in recent years. While aircraft once dominated imports, India is now focusing on air defence systems, missiles, naval platforms and armoured vehicles.
India is increasingly prioritising joint manufacturing and technology transfer. Given this backdrop, all eyes are on potential discussions regarding advanced air defence systems. Any movement on the S-500 or related systems would signal that Russia remains India’s preferred partner in missile defence cooperation.
2. Technology transfer
India is expected to press for deeper cooperation in joint production and co-development, particularly in missiles, submarines and the aviation sector, in line with its self-reliance goals under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
3. Oil prices and India’s future energy security
With global energy markets witnessing fluctuating prices, India is likely to prioritise securing an uninterrupted long-term supply of Russian oil and gas. Discussions are expected to focus on stabilising energy cooperation and ensuring predictable pricing.
A partnership at crossroads
The upcoming summit takes place as India diversifies its defence partnerships beyond any single nation. Even so, India-Russia ties continue to broaden, with technology cooperation emerging as a crucial bargaining chip for both sides.
Putin’s visit will serve as a key test of whether the two nations can adapt their decades-old strategic partnership to a rapidly evolving geopolitical and economic landscape.
