Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India is far more about geopolitical messaging than about signing big-ticket agreements, with New Delhi signalling that it will continue to follow an independent foreign policy in an increasingly polarised world.

Brahma Chellaney, Strategic Affairs Expert, said the visit shows that India will not look at global politics through a simple Western versus non-Western lens and will preserve its strategic autonomy even as global power equations shift. He stated that the visit also allows President Putin to demonstrate that Russia has strategic options beyond China.

Kanwal Sibal, Former Foreign Secretary, said Russia is keen to sharply increase trade with India and open its market wider for Indian exports, especially as Indian companies face barriers

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