Putin-Modi meeting at SCO: Can Russia-India ties hold? - DW.com

**Putin‑Modi Dialogue at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit**

New Delhi and Moscow’s top leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for a brief but closely watched encounter. The two‑hour discussion, held on the first day of the summit, was framed by both leaders as a “reaffirmation of the long‑standing friendship” between their countries. While the agenda was not public, diplomats confirmed that the talks covered the ongoing war in Ukraine, the future of bilateral trade, and coordination on regional security issues, especially concerning Afghanistan and Pakistan. Observers noted that the meeting came at a time when Russia faces unprecedented Western sanctions, and India is navigating an increasingly complex strategic environment that includes deepening ties with the United States and a growing partnership with China.

Economically, the conversation underscored the pragmatic foundations of the Indo‑Russian relationship. Russia remains a key source of Indian defence equipment, supplying advanced platforms such as the S‑400 air‑defence system, while India continues to import Russian oil at discounted rates, a lifeline for Moscow’s energy revenues. Trade between the two nations, which crossed the $30 billion mark in the 2023‑24 fiscal year, has been buoyed by a “currency‑swap” arrangement that mitigates the impact of Western financial restrictions. Yet, the Indian Express reported that Modi emphasized the need for “energy security without compromising global stability,” signaling Delhi’s sensitivity to the broader repercussions of Russia’s actions in Ukraine on global energy markets.

Strategically, the meeting highlighted India’s balancing act within the SCO’s “Shanghai bloc.” While New Delhi welcomes the platform as a venue to project an independent foreign policy, it also uses the forum to send a subtle message to Pakistan and to the United States about its willingness to engage with multiple power centres. Analysts cited by Forbes India argue that the embrace between Modi and Putin is less a revival of Cold‑War‑style alignment and more a calibrated partnership aimed at preserving strategic autonomy. As the SCO moves forward, the durability of the Russia‑India tie will hinge on Moscow’s ability to navigate sanctions, India’s appetite for diversified defence procurement, and the evolving geopolitical calculus involving China, the United States, and regional rivals.

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