Modi, Putin agree to strengthen India-Russia partnership on eve of BRICS summit
NEW DELHI: India said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to further strengthen the special relationship between their countries in talks that ranged over areas including energy and defence. New Delhi is engaged in a diplomatic balancing act as it tries to maintain strong ties with the U.S., Gulf Arab states, Russia, Iran and Israel, while…
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia's President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement on Friday to further deepen the special relationship between their nations during discussions that covered energy, defense, and other key areas. India finds itself in a delicate diplomatic position, balancing ties with the U.S., Gulf Arab states, Russia, Iran, and Israel, while grappling with shipping and trade disruptions caused by the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
This was the second meeting between the two leaders within two weeks, taking place on the eve of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, where other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian are expected to participate. The bloc aims to boost its international standing amid internal divisions over the Iran war.
During their talks, Modi and Putin discussed the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have adversely affected maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers. Modi emphasized the importance of resolving such conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, offering India's support for peace efforts. The foreign ministry statement confirmed that both leaders agreed to continue working towards strengthening the special and privileged strategic partnership between their countries.
A significant aspect of the talks was India's ties with Russia in the realm of energy. As one of the top buyers of Russian oil, India has been instrumental in supporting Moscow's budget following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and subsequent Western sanctions. India remains committed to maintaining secure, affordable, and reliable energy supplies for its vast population and economy.
The share of Russian crude oil in India's imports reached an all-time high of 51% in July 2026 due to disruptions in Middle Eastern supplies, but this figure may have decreased in August as China increased its purchases of Russian oil, according to Indian media reports.
During their visit, Modi presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, a timeless classical text in India’s Tamil language featuring 1,330 couplets on various virtues, governance, and love, penned by the poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. The leaders also toured an India-Russia industrial fair that highlighted Russian technologies, AI, aviation, space, nuclear science, heavy engineering, mining, and banking sectors.
Both nations have expressed their intention to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, up from approximately $70 billion in 2024-25.
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