Putin's India Visit Confirmed by NSA Doval Amid US-India Trade Tensions Over Tariffs

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India later this year, with the specific dates currently being finalized. This announcement was made by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his official visit to Moscow, where he held talks with Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Security Council Secretary.

Doval expressed New Delhi's enthusiasm about the forthcoming visit, highlighting the significance of past India-Russia summits in strengthening bilateral ties. He emphasized the enduring nature of the strategic partnership, stating, “You have very rightly mentioned that we have a very special relationship, a long relationship, and we highly value our strategic partnership. These high-level engagements have contributed very substantially.”

Last year, Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on two occasions. Their first meeting was during the 22nd India-Russia Summit in Moscow in July, where Modi received Russia's highest civilian accolade, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. The second meeting took place in October in Kazan during the BRICS Summit.

Following their July meeting, a joint statement outlined the extensive cooperation between the two nations, covering areas such as defense, nuclear energy, trade, space, education, and culture. Both leaders expressed their intent to explore new avenues for collaboration while strengthening existing ones.

Putin's visit occurs amid increasing tensions between India and the United States. This follows President Donald Trump's decision to impose an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, reportedly in reaction to India's ongoing purchase of Russian crude oil. The United States argues that these purchases counteract its efforts to pressure Moscow into ending the conflict in Ukraine. Trump has also warned of potential secondary sanctions on Russian oil buyers unless a ceasefire is established by Friday.

Concurrently, the Kremlin has confirmed that a possible meeting between Putin and Trump is being arranged and could happen within days, adding further complexity to the geopolitical landscape.

As Putin's visit approaches and U.S. pressure increases, India's strategy to balance its partnerships with both Russia and the United States is likely to come under closer scrutiny in the upcoming months.