Putin highlights deep India-Russia defence ties, praises strategic autonomy, and signals Su-57 offer as Moscow pushes to strengthen partnership amid shifting global alignments, reports Asian Lite News Desk
Russian President Vladimir Putin has underscored the depth of India-Russia defence ties, describing the partnership as one built on “mutual trust” and extending well beyond conventional trade, while signalling that Moscow has offered its advanced Su-57 fighter jet to New Delhi.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Putin said military cooperation between the two countries remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations, rooted in decades of strategic alignment and joint development initiatives.
“India and Russia share a long-standing tradition of military collaboration built on mutual trust,” Putin said during the plenary session. He emphasised that the relationship has evolved into co-development projects, rather than a simple buyer-seller dynamic.
Highlighting India’s long-standing procurement of Russian defence platforms, Putin noted that New Delhi has acquired a wide range of aircraft and helicopters from Moscow over the years. He added that the Sukhoi Su-57 — Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter — is among the most advanced systems available and has already been offered to India.
The Russian leader pointed to the BrahMos missile programme as a flagship example of successful bilateral cooperation, showcasing how Indian and Russian expertise has combined to produce a globally recognised defence system.
Putin also used the platform to underline India’s strategic autonomy, asserting that the country has consistently resisted external pressure in shaping its foreign and defence policies. “India has never followed any diktat from abroad,” he said, placing it alongside other major powers in asserting sovereign decision-making.
In remarks that appeared to allude to Western pressure, Putin said attempts to influence Prime Minister Narendra Modi were counterproductive. He argued that pressuring a country of India’s scale and global standing would ultimately harm international relations and bilateral ties, regardless of the source of such pressure.
The comments come amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and shifting global alignments, where India has sought to balance its longstanding defence ties with Russia alongside expanding partnerships with Western nations.
Putin also praised India’s human capital, highlighting the country’s strong educational base and global reputation in technology and coding. He described India-Russia relations as “very good, trust-based, brotherly relations in all senses of the word”.
