Modi Hails Russia Ties, Sets $100bn Trade Goal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed the strength of the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow following high-level discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The meeting took place on Friday during Putin’s visit to India for the 23rd annual summit between the two nations. The leaders agreed to significantly diversify mutual economic ties, a move that comes even as the United States exerts diplomatic pressure on India to reevaluate its decades-old alliance with Russia.

A Roadmap to 2030

Emerging from the talks, Modi and Putin announced the finalization of a comprehensive economic cooperation program that extends through 2030.

The central pillar of this new framework is an ambitious goal to boost annual bilateral trade to $100 billion by the end of the decade. To achieve this, both nations committed to expanding their economic engagement beyond traditional sectors, while re-emphasizing the critical importance of their existing energy partnerships.

Prime Minister Modi used the occasion to highlight the resilience of the relationship.

“Humanity has had to endure countless challenges and crises, and even in the midst of all of these, India-Russia friendship has stood firm like a pole star,” Modi stated.

The Geopolitical Balancing Act

The summit occurs at a pivotal moment in global diplomacy. As the conflict in Ukraine approaches the four-year mark, the United States is intensifying efforts to broker a peace deal while seeking broader global cooperation to isolate Moscow.

This environment presents a severe test for New Delhi’s foreign policy, which seeks to balance its historical reliance on Russia for defense and energy with its growing strategic partnership with Washington.

Risks to Western Relations

While India has historically maintained deep ties with Russia, the optics of the visit carry significant risks.

Critics warn that President Putin’s warm reception in New Delhi could strain India’s relations with the European Union and the United States.

There are growing concerns that this display of solidarity with Moscow might jeopardize sensitive negotiations for major trade agreements with Western powers—deals that are viewed as essential for the growth of India’s export economy.

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