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Modi, Narendra

Modi and Putin's Armored Limousine Diplomacy: A Counterweight to US Influence in Asia

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The unusual meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in an armored limousine during a regional summit in China has been described as "insightful" by Modi. The two leaders, accompanied by China's President Xi Jinping, walked together in a show of unity, a move seen as a counterweight to US influence in Asia. The 45-minute conversation between Modi and Putin in the car was followed by formal talks with their delegations, where the Indian leader emphasized the importance of the close cooperation between India and Russia for global peace, stability, and prosperity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The meeting between Modi and Putin comes at a time of mounting trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi, with the US imposing tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian imports due to India's continued purchases of Russian oil and military equipment.
  • India has become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, taking advantage of discounted prices as Western countries introduced sanctions and price caps.
  • Roughly 37 per cent of India's oil imports now come from Russia, according to analysts and officials.
  • New Delhi has defended the trade as essential for meeting the needs of its 1.4 billion people and dismissed Washington's penalties as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable".
  • Despite US pressure, India and Russia have expanded economic ties, with bilateral trade reaching a record $68.7bn in the past financial year.
  • The two governments have also explored ways to settle payments in rupees and roubles to reduce reliance on the US dollar.
  • Modi, who last met Putin in October 2024 at a Brics summit in Russia, reiterated his call for peace in Ukraine and welcomed "recent efforts aimed at stopping the war".
  • Putin noted that Russia and India have maintained special relations for decades, friendly and trusting, and praised the decades-long partnership between the two countries.

Statistics:

  • 45 minutes: The duration of the one-on-one conversation between Modi and Putin in the armored limousine.
  • 37 per cent: The percentage of India's oil imports that now come from Russia.
  • $68.7bn: The record bilateral trade between India and Russia in the past financial year.
  • 1.4 billion: The number of people in India that Modi's trade agreements aim to meet.
  • 2022: The year Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, leading to India increasing its oil imports from Russia.

Sources:

  • The White House (@WhiteHouse)
  • Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
  • Vladimir Putin (@KremlinRussia_E)
  • The Economic Times (@EconomicTimes)
  • The New York Times (@nytimes)
  • Reuters (@Reuters)

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