Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in India on Thursday, December 4th, marking a visit of great importance. This is his first visit to India since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, amid international sanctions. During his two-day stay, Putin will attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
The Kremlin has labeled this visit as a cornerstone for 'Privileged Strategic Partnership' between the nations. On the eve of the visit, Russia took a big step by ratifying the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) agreement with India in its parliament, a significant move for both countries.
This agreement signals that President Putin is arriving with a firm agenda to deepen ties with India.
For the first time since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022, President Putin is visiting India. The conflict led to significant sanctions from the US and Western nations on Russia. With Donald Trump's re-election, the situation intensified as Trump targeted countries trading with Russia, including India and China.
Dissatisfied with India's purchase of Russian crude, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff, raising the total tariff to 50%. He also pressures India to reduce defense collaborations with Russia. Hence, Putin's visit holds immense significance.
Several trade and defense deals are expected during Putin's visit, increasing its value considerably.
Geopolitical experts view President Putin's visit to India positively. Strategic Affairs Expert Dr. Brahma Chellaney remarked on social media, 'In a world divided by rival camps, Putin's visit to India is not a typical diplomatic tour but a bold geopolitical statement.'
He further noted, 'This journey will pave the way for significant agreements, including new payment systems designed to bypass SWIFT and decrease dependency on the US dollar. Putin's visit indicates Russia's options beyond China, refusing to be merely a subordinate to Beijing.'
Concluding his thoughts, Dr. Chellaney said, 'By hosting Putin, India makes it clear that it rejects the West's coercive
