Modi and Putin Meet at SCO Summit, Signaling Continued Strong Ties Amidst Western Pressure
Qingdao, China – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation organization (SCO) summit in Qingdao, China today, reaffirming the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations. The meeting underscores India’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Russia, especially as New Delhi navigates a complex geopolitical landscape and increasing scrutiny from Western powers.
India and Russia share a long-standing relationship dating back to the Cold War, and this connection has been further solidified since the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine. new Delhi views moscow as a key trading partner, and both countries have become notable players in a shifting global energy market.
China and India have emerged as major purchasers of Russian oil following Western sanctions imposed on Moscow. India, historically reliant on crude oil imports from the Middle East, has increasingly turned to discounted russian oil.Currently,Russia accounts for approximately 37 percent of India’s total oil imports.
bilateral trade between India and Russia has experienced considerable growth in recent years, reaching a record $68.7 billion (approximately $104 billion AUD) in the 2024-25 financial year. Imports from Russia totaled around $64 billion (approximately $97.6 billion AUD), while exports from India reached approximately $5 billion (approximately $7.6 billion AUD). Both nations have expressed a goal of increasing trade volume to $100 billion (approximately $152.6 billion AUD) by 2030.
According to Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an international affairs expert at New Delhi’s Jindal School of International Affairs, the meeting highlighted India’s “strategic autonomy” and its prioritization of established partnerships.He also noted the Indian government’s hope for a resolution to recent tensions with the United States, allowing India to continue pursuing a “multi-alignment strategy” – maintaining strong relationships with both Russia and the US.
