Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney said the visit shows that India will not view global politics only through a Western versus non-Western lens and will maintain its strategic autonomy even as global power equations change. He said the visit also allows President Putin to demonstrate that Russia has strategic options beyond China.
Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal said Russia is keen to rapidly expand trade with India and open its market wider to Indian exports, especially as Indian companies face barriers in the US due to tariffs and sanctions.
“They want to take full advantage of this opportunity to open their markets for us,” Sibal said, referring to sectors like pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture and IT. However, he cautioned that India’s exports to Russia are still very low at about $5.6 billion, while imports from Russia are very high, which could further widen the trade deficit unless Indian exports grow meaningfully.
On the proposal for a free trade agreement with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, Chellaney said that although such free trade agreements (FTAs) hold geopolitical importance, their economic benefits for India remain uncertain as India is largely a domestic consumption-driven economy and already runs a large import bill under several existing trade agreements.
The two experts on defense ties said that although no major announcements are expected during the visit, military cooperation will continue quietly in the background. Chellani pointed out that Russia has rebuilt its defense production capacity during the war and can meet India’s future requirements, including discussions on additional S-400 air defense systems.
On the long-pending issue of fifth generation fighter aircraft, Sibal said India was unlikely to take any immediate decision. He strongly advised against purchasing the US F-35 and said India’s real choice was between strengthening its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, adding more Rafale aircraft or pursuing limited cooperation with Russia. “Relying on the US for such a platform would be strategically unwise,” Sibal said.
Referring to Russia’s recent comment on offering India a “no borders partnership”, Sibal said it should be seen as a political assurance that Moscow’s close ties with China will not weaken its relationship with New Delhi. He said that although the term may not be formally adopted by India, the intention is to signal that Russia is keen to deepen ties with India without any hindrance.
On labor and mobility, Sibal said the two sides could sign an agreement to allow skilled Indian professionals to work in Russia, especially in sectors like IT, where Russia is now looking for talent. He said Russia also wants to bring in large numbers of Indian workers for construction and agriculture, but he stressed that such movement should be controlled by proper agreements and monitoring to prevent abuses.
For the full discussion, watch the attached video