India-Russia Relations: Maintaining Relevance, Weathering Storms

President Vladimir Putin is visiting New Delhi for what will be the 23^rd India-Russia Annual Summit, his first visit to India in four years. The summit holds additional significance as India and Russia are celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership, including 15 years since this status was elevated to special and privileged strategic partnership.

The resilience of bilateral relations is beyond question. Throughout history, the two countries have overcome various turbulent periods in their relationship. The historic friendship between India and Russia, which stretches back to the Cold War era, is well known. The close connections in sectors such as defence and energy, which have underpinned several decades of partnership, remain the backbone of the bilateral agenda. However, in light of the current geopolitical churn, several questions persist:

• To what extent is Russia still relevant to contemporary India? Do New Delhi and Moscow have aligned visions for the world order?
• Does Russia continue to meet India’s needs as a defence partner? And if so, what potential does bilateral defence cooperation hold against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and sanctions on the Russian economy?
• How do Russian energy supplies fit into India’s development story? Assuming cheap Russian oil has a positive impact on India’s economic growth, how will New Delhi navigate the restrictions against the largest Russian oil companies?