India not only laid the red carpet for President Vladimir Putin as he arrived in New Delhi, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed up at the airport to receive his Russian counterpart and greet him with a hug. They proceeded to share the car ride together. This was a break from protocol, signalling warmth in ties and complete defiance of Western pressure tactics. With this, Putin’s state visit could not have started on a better note.

At a time when powerful forces in the West want them to break up, India and Russia are reinventing ties in a way that is surprising the world. For years, a convenient storyline floated worldwide: India and Russia are growing apart. India is moving West, Russia is glued to China, and the old partnership is slowly losing steam. But looking closely at what’s ac

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