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    EYE ON INDIA                                                             APRIL 10, 2026    |  The Indian Eye                    6

            India and Russia reaffirm strategic

                      depth amid global uncertainty

               High-level engagements in New Delhi signal a deliberate push to stabilise and expand ties across

                                                   sectors in a shifting geopolitical landscape

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            gic closeness between the two coun-
                                                                                                                  tries. By emphasising “mutually ben-
            New Delhi
                                                                                                                  eficial  cooperation,”  both  sides  are
                  s global fault lines sharpen and                                                                signalling that economic pragmatism
                  conflicts reshape international                                                                 remains  central  to  the  partnership,
            Aalignments,  India  and  Russia                                                                      particularly in a global environment
            are  signalling  continuity  and  intent                                                              marked  by  disruptions  in  supply
            in their long-standing partnership. A                                                                 chains and shifting trade patterns.
            series of high-level meetings in New                                                                      At  the  same  time,  the  partner-
            Delhi between Indian leaders and                                                                      ship  continues  to  rest  on  a  broad
            Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister                                                                  foundation that includes science
            Denis Manturov underline how both                                                                     and technology, nuclear energy, de-
            countries are seeking to reinforce ties                                                               fence and space collaboration. These
            across  traditional  and  emerging  do-                                                               sectors,  long  seen  as  pillars  of  In-
            mains while navigating an uncertain                                                                   dia-Russia  ties,  provide  continuity
            world.                                                                                                and stability even as newer areas are
                At  the  centre  of  these  engage-                                                               added  to  the  agenda.  The  ongoing
            ments was Prime Minister Narendra                                                                     engagement across such a wide spec-
            Modi,  who  framed  the  relationship                                                                 trum  suggests  that  the  relationship
            in terms of continuity and mutual                                                                     is  being  actively  maintained  rather
            benefit.  Following  his  meeting  with   Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Russia   than allowed to drift.
            Manturov,  Modi  said,  “Pleased  to                                                                      The timing of these meetings is
            meet Russia’s First Deputy PM De-  and Co-Chairman of the Russia India IGC on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical & Cultural   also  notable.  With  global  tensions
            nis  Manturov.  We  discussed  our   Cooperation Denis Manturov, in New Delhi on Thursday. (@RusEmbIndia X/ANI Photo)  persisting—from  conflicts  in  West
            mutually  beneficial  cooperation  in                                                                 Asia  to  broader  geopolitical  rival-
            trade, fertilisers, connectivity, and   da,  with  new  areas  being  brought   ited  to  bilateral  issues.  Jaishankar   ries—the reaffirmation of India-Rus-
            people-to-people  ties.”  He  added   into focus as both economies adapt   noted  that  both  sides  “exchanged   sia ties reflects a strategic choice to
            that both sides “welcomed the sus-  to shifting global priorities.  views on regional and global devel-  maintain  diversified  partnerships.
            tained  efforts…  to  implement  the   External  Affairs  Minister  S.   opments,  including  the  conflict  in   By  engaging  at  multiple  levels  and
            outcomes of the 23rd India-Russia   Jaishankar  described  his  meeting   West  Asia,”  indicating  that  India   across sectors, both countries appear
            Annual Summit.”                   with Manturov as an “in-depth con-  and  Russia  continue  to  engage  on   to  be  insulating  their  relationship
                This  emphasis  on  implemen-  versation  on  our  bilateral  cooper-  broader geopolitical questions. This   from external pressures while adapt-
            tation  is  significant.  Rather  than   ation,”  spanning  “trade,  industry,   dimension reinforces the idea that   ing it to contemporary realities.
            announcing  new  frameworks,  both   energy, fertilisers, connectivity, and   their  partnership  operates  not  just   In  this  context,  the  language
            sides appear focused on consolidat-  mobility.”  The  breadth  of  this  list   as an economic or bilateral arrange-  used by both sides—“mutually ben-
            ing decisions taken during the 23rd   underscores how the relationship is   ment, but as a platform for strategic   eficial  cooperation,”  “in-depth  con-
            India-Russia Annual Summit held   no longer confined to legacy sectors   dialogue  in  a  fragmented  interna-  versation,”  and  “strengthening…
            in December 2025 during President   like  defence,  but  increasingly  en-  tional order.             partnership”—points to a deliberate
            Vladimir  Putin’s  visit  to  India.  The   compasses economic and infrastruc-  Economic  engagement  formed   effort to project stability and continu-
            Russian  Embassy  noted  that  “par-  ture linkages.                another key pillar of the discussions.   ity. Rather than dramatic announce-
            ticular attention was paid to further   More  notably,  Jaishankar  Union Finance Minister Nirmala    ments, the focus is on steady engage-
            strengthening the Russia-India Spe-  pointed to forward-looking areas of   Sitharaman also met Manturov, with   ment, incremental progress and the
            cial and Privileged Strategic Partner-  collaboration, saying the two sides   the Ministry of Finance stating that   execution of existing commitments.
            ship,” signalling that the relationship   explored  “new  opportunities  in   the two leaders “exchanged views on   Taken  together,  these  develop-
            retains  its  institutional  depth  even   technology, innovation, and critical   strengthening  trade  and  investment   ments suggest that India and Russia
            amid global churn.                minerals.” This suggests an attempt   ties and discussed issues of mutual   are  not  merely  preserving  a  legacy
                The  scope  of  cooperation  dis-  to future-proof the partnership by   interest.” This parallel track of eco-  relationship  but  actively  recalibrat-
            cussed  reflects  both  continuity  and   aligning  it  with  emerging  global   nomic  diplomacy  highlights  a  coor-  ing it for a changing world. By com-
            expansion. Talks centred on core sec-  supply  chains  and  technological   dinated effort across ministries to   bining traditional strengths with new
            tors such as trade, investment, ener-  shifts,  particularly  at  a  time  when   deepen commercial linkages.  areas  of  cooperation  and  sustained
            gy and industrial cooperation—areas   access to critical resources and in-  The repeated focus on trade and   diplomatic  engagement,  both  sides
            that have historically anchored the   novation  ecosystems  is  becoming   investment reflects a shared recogni-  are  asserting  that  their  partnership
            partnership.  At  the  same  time,  the   strategically vital.      tion of the need to expand economic   remains relevant—even as the global
            discussions indicate a widening agen-  The conversations were not lim-  ties to match the political and strate-  order becomes more uncertain.

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