Modi, Putin Strengthen Ties Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure/ newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their strategic alliance during the SCO summit in China. Their meeting came as the U.S. imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports in response to continued purchases of Russian oil. Modi described ties with Russia as “special and privileged,” signaling India’s intent to maintain balanced global partnerships.
India-Russia Bond Deepens Quick Looks
- Modi, Putin hold bilateral meeting at Tianjin SCO summit
- Modi calls India-Russia partnership “special and privileged”
- Putin refers to Modi as a “dear friend”
- U.S. President Trump imposes 25% tariff hike on Indian goods
- India defends Russian oil purchases as vital to energy needs
- Analysts say U.S. pressure may drive India closer to China and Russia
- India aims to boost trade with Russia to $100B by 2030
- Putin confirms plans to visit India in December
- Modi and Xi pledge to ease border tensions at same summit
- Trump slams India’s trade stance and Russian oil imports on Truth Social
Deep Look
Modi and Putin Affirm “Special” Partnership as U.S. Hits India with Tariffs Over Russian Oil
TIANJIN, China — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin demonstrated a united front at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on Monday, reaffirming their decades-old alliance as India faces steep U.S. tariffs in retaliation for its continued import of Russian oil.
Meeting on the sidelines of the summit, Modi described the India-Russia partnership as “special and privileged,” a phrase long used to signify deep strategic trust between the two countries. Putin, echoing the sentiment, referred to Modi as a “dear friend,” underlining the historic and ongoing strength of bilateral ties.
“Russia and India have maintained special relations for decades. Friendly, trusting. This is the foundation for the development of our relations in the future,” Putin said.
Tariff Tensions with the U.S.
The warm meeting came amid growing economic friction between India and the United States. Just days earlier, President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports — raising total duties to 50% — citing India’s persistent purchases of discounted Russian oil despite U.S. warnings.
Washington contends that India’s reliance on Russian crude is helping finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine. New Delhi, however, defends its actions as necessary to meet the rising energy demands of its 1.4 billion citizens.
Trump’s move, analysts say, may have unintentionally bolstered India’s ties with both China and Russia.
“While India-China reengagements started much before Trump, his policies are accelerating a process whereby India seems to be working much more closely with China and Russia to push back against economic unilateralism it is witnessing from the U.S.,” said Harsh Pant, a foreign policy expert at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
Modi, Putin and Xi: A Strategic Triangle?
Putin arrived in Tianjin with a high-level delegation and had a private hour-long conversation with Modi in his Russian-made limousine before their formal talks. Their visible camaraderie — including laughter and handshakes during the official group photo — was symbolic of a relationship that has weathered shifting global dynamics.
Even Chinese President Xi Jinping, typically reserved in demeanor, joined in the exchange with a subtle smile, as the three leaders shared a moment of informal dialogue. Modi had also met with Xi earlier in the summit, where both leaders pledged to reduce tensions over their longstanding border dispute.
Putin confirmed plans to visit India again in December for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit — further cementing the bilateral agenda.
Trump’s Response
Unmoved by the SCO show of solidarity, Trump criticized India’s trade practices and Russian oil dependence in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling the U.S.-India trade relationship “a totally one-sided disaster.”
“They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late,” Trump wrote. “They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!”
Trump’s rhetoric, analysts argue, may deepen the perception in New Delhi that Washington is no longer a consistently reliable partner.
Strategic Energy Realignments
India, traditionally a major importer of crude from the Middle East, has significantly shifted toward Russian oil due to favorable pricing amid Western sanctions. Analysts say Russian crude now accounts for about 37% of India’s total oil imports.
In the 2024-25 financial year, trade between the two nations hit a record $68.7 billion, with Indian exports totaling $5 billion and Russian imports dominating the balance. India and Russia have set an ambitious target to expand bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.
Sreeram Sundar Chaulia of the Jindal School of International Affairs said that Modi’s meeting with Putin reinforces India’s commitment to strategic autonomy — prioritizing national interests over alignment with any single power bloc.
“India prized its old and reliable strategic partners and has sufficient strategic autonomy in its foreign policy to maintain and strengthen its multi-dimensional partnership,” Chaulia noted.
Multi-Alignment Strategy Still in Play
Despite recent tensions, Indian analysts believe New Delhi has no intention of abandoning ties with the U.S. Instead, they suggest that India is temporarily recalibrating its position while continuing to pursue a “multi-alignment” strategy — engaging with the U.S., Russia, China, and others to serve its own interests.
“The Indian government hopes the present rough weather between India and the U.S. is a temporary aberration,” Chaulia added. “Then, India can return happily to having the Russian cake and eating the American pie.”
As the Tianjin summit concludes, India stands at a diplomatic crossroads — maintaining its traditional alliance with Moscow, easing tensions with Beijing, and awaiting the next move from Washington.
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