India-Russia "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership"
India and Russia formalised their relationship as a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" in 2010. This builds on decades of Soviet-era cooperation in defence, space, and energy. The partnership encompasses five pillars: political-diplomatic coordination, defence and security cooperation, economic and commercial ties, science and technology, and cultural and humanitarian engagement. Despite Western pressure following the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2022) and the 2026 Iran war context, India has maintained its independent foreign policy, continuing engagement with Russia.
- Russia has historically supplied 60–70% of India's defence imports — aircraft (Su-30 MKI), tanks (T-90), submarines, frigates
- India abstained on UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine (February–March 2022)
- India's purchase of Russian crude oil surged post-2022 sanctions; Russia became India's top oil supplier (~40% of crude imports by 2023)
- BrahMos missile (joint venture: India's DRDO + Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya): world's fastest supersonic cruise missile
- India-Russia Annual Summits: institutionalised since 2000; PM Modi met Putin at the 2024 Kazan BRICS summit
● Tracked since April 15, 2026 · last seen August 27, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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