After its Galwan Valley clash with China in 2020, New Delhi has imbibed a strong “pointed alignment” strategy wherein it has focused on augmenting ties with partner states to respond to shared issues that are paramount to India’s national interests. India’s recent decision to deploy two regiments of Russian S-400 missile defense systems along its borders with both Pakistan and China—even as it faces potential sanctions from the United States under its Countering America’s Adversary’s Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) legislation—and the recently concluded state-visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to India, indicate that Russia is one such key partner for New Delhi. However, India’s growing focus on the United States and its complex and turbulent relationship with China has translated to tensions in its partnership with Russia. In this context, has the recent “rapprochement” in defense cooperation between India and Russia really reframed the ties between them? Has the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership reached its true potential, or are such developments more superficial than substantive?
Can Putin Bring Out the True Potential of India-Russia Relations? | The National Interest
