The Delhi Embrace: How India-Russia Ties Defy Western Hegemony and Forge a New Global Order

Introduction: A Summit of Strategic Defiance

The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India on December 4–5, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in international geopolitics. Coming after a prolonged hiatus exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, this visit was not merely ceremonial; it was a robust reaffirmation of a partnership that has withstood the test of time and Western pressure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unprecedented gesture of welcoming Putin at the airport with an embrace and hosting a private dinner symbolizes more than diplomatic courtesy—it signals India’s unwavering commitment to strategic autonomy and multipolarity. This summit, the twenty-third annual meeting between the two nations, celebrated 25 years of their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” yet it also unveiled a nuanced shift from traditional defense-centric cooperation toward economic diversification and people-to-people linkages. Against a backdrop of escalating U.S. tariffs and coercive diplomacy, this meeting stands as a bold statement: the Global South will not be dictated to by neo-colonial powers.

The Facts: Agreements, Targets, and Imbalances

The bilateral dimension of Putin’s visit yielded several concrete outcomes, underscoring a pragmatic approach to deepening ties. Key agreements included a labor-mobility pact facilitating the movement of Indian skilled workers to Russia, reciprocal 30-day e-visas to enhance tourism and business exchanges, joint ventures in fertilizer production, and maritime and customs agreements aimed at advancing national-currency trade. Both leaders pledged to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies and set an ambitious target of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, a significant leap from the current $68 billion. However, this optimism is tempered by a stark trade imbalance: Indian imports from Russia stand at $63.84 billion, while exports are a meager $4.88 billion, leading to a “rupee surplus problem” as billions accumulate in Special Rupee Vostro Accounts. This imbalance highlights the urgent need for economic diversification beyond energy imports, a challenge both nations have acknowledged through their focus on joint ventures in cyber, space, and other sectors.

From an institutional perspective, Pradeep Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International and Honorary Adviser to India’s Commerce and Industries Minister, emphasized the summit’s broader implications. CUTS, which has long engaged with Russia on trade issues, sees this visit as reinforcing efforts to strengthen multilateral forums like BRICS, WTO, and G20. Notably, India’s upcoming chairmanship of BRICS in 2026 offers a platform to amplify Global South voices. Additionally, CUTS has proposed a “Quadro” grouping involving the U.S., China, Russia, and India—a visionary initiative aimed at fostering dialogue among major powers. The organization has also conducted a feasibility study for a bilateral free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), led by Russia, which promises to replace costly European imports with Indian goods, benefiting both economies.

Geopolitically, the visit served dual purposes: for Russia, it provided political legitimacy amid isolationism; for India, it demonstrated strategic autonomy and multialignment. However, challenges persist, including the Trump administration’s 50% tariffs targeting India’s Russian oil purchases and Russia’s deepening ties with China, which complicate India’s security calculus. The enduring Russia-Ukraine conflict further tests India’s balancing act, though its steadfast friendship with Russia offers a strategic counterweight to the China-Pakistan-Bangladesh nexus.

The Context: Global South Fragmentation and Western Hypocrisy

The Global South, while increasingly assertive, remains plagued by internal disparities. Heterogeneity on issues like climate change—where major emitters contrast with vulnerable low-income nations—and fragmented cooperation mechanisms hinder cohesive action. Infrastructure gaps and development financing difficulties exacerbate these divides, yet forums like BRICS and G20 present a coherent alternative to Western-dominated governance. The U.S. boycott of the G20 summit in South Africa and its refusal to invite the nation to the next summit in Miami exemplify the very undiplomatic behavior that undermines global cooperation. Such actions, coupled with Washington’s hostility toward an expanding BRICS, reveal a desperate attempt to cling to unipolar hegemony rather than embrace equitable multipolarity.

Opinion: Sovereignty, Solidarity, and the Struggle Against Neo-Colonialism

As a committed advocate for the Global South, I view this summit not as a mere diplomatic event but as a watershed moment in the struggle against imperialist coercion. The West, particularly the U.S., has long weaponized institutions like the G20 and WTO to enforce a rules-based order that disproportionately favors its interests. Their sanctions regimes and tariff wars are nothing but modern-day colonial tools designed to suppress emerging powers. India’s refusal to capitulate to pressure over Russian oil purchases is a testament to its civilizational wisdom—a recognition that true sovereignty lies in making independent choices based on national interest, not subservience to Western diktats.

The shift from defense-centric cooperation to economic and people-to-people ties is particularly laudable. For decades, Western narratives have caricatured India-Russia relations as a relic of the Cold War, ignoring the deep mutual respect and consistency that define this partnership. By diversifying into areas like cyber, space, and fertilisers, India and Russia are building a resilient ecosystem that transcends transactional engagements. The labor-mobility pact and e-visa agreements will foster human connections, undermining the West’s attempt to isolate Russia through cultural and economic blockades.

However, the trade imbalance cannot be overlooked. While the $100 billion target is aspirational, it must be achieved through equitable exchanges, not just energy imports. India must leverage its strengths in services, technology, and manufacturing to correct this asymmetry. The proposed India-EAEU FTA could be a game-changer, enabling Indian products to access Eurasian markets and reducing dependency on Western supply chains. This aligns with the broader decolonial project: to create self-reliant economic blocs that empower the Global South.

Geopolitically, India’s multialignment strategy is a masterclass in navigating a complex world. While the West preaches allegiance to a “rules-based order,” it routinely violates these rules when convenient—as seen in its arbitrary tariffs and summit boycotts. India’s engagement with Russia, even amid the Ukraine conflict, reflects a principled stand for peace and dialogue, not unilateral condemnation. This approach honors the civilizational ethos of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family), rejecting the West’s divisive zero-sum politics.

The U.S.’s antagonism toward BRICS expansion is equally revealing. As more Global South nations join this bloc, it threatens the West’s monopoly over global governance. Instead of adapting to this shift, the U.S. responds with petulance, further alienating the very nations it claims to lead. This behavior only accelerates the decline of Western influence and bolsters the appeal of alternative forums.

In conclusion, the Putin-Modi summit is a beacon of hope for the Global South. It proves that nations can forge their own paths, defy coercion, and build partnerships based on mutual respect. The road ahead is fraught with challenges—from trade imbalances to geopolitical tensions—but the generational consistency of India-Russia ties suggests unwavering resilience. As we move toward a multipolar world, let this partnership inspire other nations to break free from neo-colonial shackles and embrace a future where sovereignty, not subjugation, defines international relations.