https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/modi-courts-putin-eye-trump-s-disapproval
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expected visit to India in early December 2025 for the 23rd India-Russia Summit carries unusual importance due to major geopolitical shifts and India’s ongoing attempts to negotiate a compromise trade deal with Donald Trump’s United States. Unlike Putin’s quieter 2021 trip, both sides are engaging in intensive preparations . These meetings are helping shape the agenda for Modi and Putin’s discussions.
The summit is expected to focus mainly on two issues: Russian oil sales and defence cooperation. Under U.S. pressure, India has reduced its imports of discounted Russian crude while seeking relief from high American tariffs. Putin has publicly questioned this shift, urging India to weigh the benefits of cheap Russian oil against U.S. sanctions. To reassure Moscow, India may expand defence collaboration, including interest in acquiring more S-400 systems, exploring S-500 options, and considering Russia’s offer to manufacture Su-57 stealth fighters domestically.
Facing diminished importance in Washington’s eyes, New Delhi is striving to preserve its strategic autonomy. Strengthening ties with Russia during Putin’s visit may help India rebalance its external partnerships.
Putin’s intended plan to visit and converse with India highlights the continued shift in geopolitical identities, and how that shift creates change within those long standing international relationships. Through a constructiveness perspective India and Russian have always viewed each other as a mutual relationship, both identifying as independent countries who are strongly against the idea of western power, and post colonial power. However, as the pressure rises both India and Russia are having to balance this relationship, causing setbacks and difficulties specifically in relation to US trade and oil. Currently, neither one of them can continue to follow a strategic autonomy. India is reliant on Russian weapons, but factors including delays and the Ukraine war have created conflict. This meeting emphasizes the evolving balance of power in Asia, requiring India to carefully manage its ties with several major countries
My prediction going into this summit is that India will try to balance both India and Russia. They will most likely welcome Putin, and plan for new defense and weapons deals with Russia, while continuing the relationship with the US in order to reduce tariffs and protect their access to their markets. As for Russia, they will continue to push India to buy more weapons and continue to import oil, as they want to generate as much money especially during this time, as they are against western powers. One country that was mentioned in the article was China, to put the focus on China they will most likely deliberately watch that indian and russian relationship, as it could strongly affect them, specifically their relationship in Moscow.
As for connecting class concepts to this event, while reading this article I noticed that this event strongly reflects the Realist theory. Most of the countries mentioned including Russia, China, and the US all seek to pursue power. They all want that common idea of security, and economic advantage as they are in a competitive international system. The concept of constructivism highlights the shared identity between India and Russia, as non western states resisting that idea of western dominance. Constructivism demonstrates that various countries and states interact and construct their diplomatic procedures beyond material and economic interests. Additionally, the concept of the dependency theory is demonstrated between India and Russia. India relies on the weapons and defense system that Russia provides, while Russia is reliant on India’s oil. This shared dependence creates that mutual relationship. This article demonstrates how countries’ interactions are shaped through power structures, mutual ideas, and economic needs.