S-400 and Sukhoi-57 Aircraft Deals. Putin’s Visit to India After Four Years
According to BBC Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India after a gap of four years, an event generating a fair amount of global interest particularly in Washington. The visit will take place at a time when India and Russia are trying to revive their decades long defense partnership, which has been stalled due to delays in major military deals relating to the S 400 air defense system and the Sukhoi 57 fighter jet program.
Diplomatic sources say that New Delhi will also raise the issue of the delayed delivery schedule for the S 400 missile system, a deal India considers crucial to boosting its air defence. The contract for the S 400 was inked a few years ago but has seen intermissions due to geopolitical tensions and supply chain issues associated with Western sanctions on Russia. India is also expected to ask for more specific timelines for future collaboration on the Sukhoi 57 fifth generation fighter jet, whose development India has shown growing interest in during efforts to modernize its air force.
Putin’s visit also carries larger strategic significance. As alliances around the world are in flux, India’s defense cooperation with Russia is under a microscope in Washington. The U.S. has traditionally had misgivings about the S 400 deal due to interoperability concerns and sanctions under the CAATSA law. Analysts believe that the outcomes of this visit, especially any movement on big ticket defense agreements that could alter the balance of power in the region, will be closely watched by the U.S.
For India, the visit is an opportunity to balance its ties with both Russia and the United States. Despite the expanding security cooperation with Washington through forums like the Quad, New Delhi continues to rely heavily upon Russian defence technology. Putin’s upcoming trip is therefore expected to confirm deep military and strategic ties between the two nations while navigating diplomatic sensitivities in U.S.–India relations. The visit is likely to focus on strengthening defence production, enhancing technological cooperation, and possibly outlining long term strategic projects. In a time when global tensions continue to reshape international politics, the outcomes of Putin’s India trip could play a significant role in determining the future trajectory of regional security and major power competition.
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