Putin Backs India's Independent Foreign Policy, Offers Su-57 Co-Development

Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly backed India's right to set its own foreign policy, saying outside pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scale back ties with Russia would harm global stability. Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, he described India as a 'reliable' strategic partner and said India would always put its national interest first. The remarks come as some Western capitals have pressed India to cut its imports of Russian crude oil and have imposed punitive tariffs over the issue.

Putin said India's engagement with the United States does not weaken its long-standing ties with Russia, and that India was free to develop relations with all countries as it saw fit. He called the India-Russia relationship a 'special privileged strategic partnership' built over nearly 80 years, dating back to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1947, and praised Indians for their skills, especially in coding and technology.

On energy, Putin said Russia wants oil supplies to remain stable and that cooperation with India had helped New Delhi manage supply pressures caused by tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil passes. He noted that India had asked people to limit personal car use and long-distance travel as a precaution during the disruption.

On defence, Putin highlighted decades of military and technical cooperation, including the jointly developed BrahMos missile, and noted that much of India's armed forces use equipment of Russian or Soviet origin. He again offered to jointly develop and build the Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter in India, calling it the best of its kind, and said there would be 'no restrictions whatsoever' on technology sharing. India has so far said it will wait and watch. Putin also said Russia would not interfere in India-China relations, calling them a delicate matter for the two countries to resolve, and added that he is set to visit India in September 2026 for the BRICS summit.

For exam aspirants, this is important for India's foreign policy of strategic autonomy and multi-alignment, where India keeps strong ties with both Russia and the West. Key terms include 'special privileged strategic partnership', BrahMos, the Su-57, BRICS, the SCO, and India's energy security challenges linked to the Strait of Hormuz.