Why Putin’s Visit to India Holds Importance Amid Current US Tariff Dispute
Putin’s visit to India comes at a critical time, as Trump continues to criticise New Delhi for supporting Russia’s “war machine” in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit New Delhi this year, at a time when bilateral relations are under increased attention from US President Donald Trump, who has imposed a 50% tariff on India for its ongoing purchase of Russian oil.
This will be Putin’s first trip to India since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which later led to the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant against him in 2023 over alleged “war crimes”. The ICC warrant is largely believed to be a major reason behind Putin limiting his overseas travel—especially to ICC member countries. However, this does not apply to India, as it is not a signatory to the Rome Statute.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly advocated peace and encouraged dialogue to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war. PM Modi met Putin twice in Russia last year—first during the 22nd Annual Summit held in Moscow in July 2024, and again at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. Earlier, PM Modi had hosted Putin in New Delhi in December 2021 for the 21st India–Russia Annual Summit.
Why Is Putin’s Visit to India Noteworthy?
Putin’s visit comes at a critical time, as Trump continues to lash out at New Delhi for allegedly contributing to Russia’s “war machine” in the Ukraine conflict. While India’s relationship with the US has become more strategic in the past decade, particularly through groupings like the Quad, New Delhi still describes its partnership with Moscow as “stable and time-tested”.
One of the defining moments in this relationship occurred during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, when the US deployed a warship to the Indian Ocean in support of Pakistan—but Russia stood firmly with India and countered the American move.
India has defended its crude oil purchases from Russia, stating that it is a necessary step to protect the country’s economic stability and energy security.
