An increasingly isolated Vladimir Putin left Russia for only the second time during the pandemic last December. His destination was New Delhi and his focus was on preparing for future conflicts.
Moscow works with New Delhi in the “military and technical sphere-like with no other country”, the Russian president told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, calling India “a time-tested friend” as the leaders signed a new 10-year defense co-operation agreement.
The friendship would be challenged just eight weeks later when Russian troops stormed Ukraine, sending India scrambling to rescue more than 15,000 nationals, mostly students studying in the country.
While western nations condemned Russia’s aggression, New Delhi’s loyalty to its longstanding partner held firm. India, as a temporary UN Security Council member, abstained from voting on a resolution to condemn Russia’s invasion last week, along with China and the United Arab Emirates.
Analysts say India believes there is little benefit in alienating Russia, on which it depends for crucial commodities such as energy and fertilizer, with neighboring China as a much greater strategic threat. Russia’s support is seen as vital to managing India’s unresolved confrontation with China on its northern Himalayan border after deadly fighting in 2020.
“Here in Delhi, Russia has always been [seen as] a dangerous tactical distraction for the west,” said Constantino Xavier, a fellow at the Centre for
Social and Economic Progress think-tank in New Delhi. “From India’s perspective, the only actor that will come out stronger [from the war in
Ukraine] is China.”