India-Russia Summit Set to Deliver Joint Defence Projects and Energy Agreements
The India-Russia Summit 2025 aims at energy trade, defence co-development, and a shared multipolar global strategy.
The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, set for December 4-5 in New Delhi, marks Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to India since the 2022 Ukraine conflict, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid deepening strategic ties. Relations between the two nations have evolved into a resilient partnership, largely insulated from global geopolitical turbulence, with bilateral trade reaching a record $68.7 billion in FY25—driven by India's discounted Russian oil imports despite U.S. sanctions. Experts anticipate a comprehensive agenda focusing on economic resilience, defence co-development, and multipolar global architecture, underscoring the summit's role in elevating ties to a "qualitatively new level," as Putin recently stated.
A primary expectation centres on bolstering trade amid U.S. pressures, including secondary sanctions on over 180 Russian energy entities and proposed 500% duties on refined products with Russian components. Discussions will likely address mechanisms like rupee-based payments, non-SWIFT messaging, and insurance re-routing to sustain India's 38% share of Russia's seaborne crude exports. Russia aims to facilitate Indian exports in machinery, pharmaceuticals, telecom equipment, and agriculture to balance the $64 billion trade deficit, potentially accelerating free trade talks with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for MSMEs, farmers, and fishermen.
In defence, the summit is poised to formalise joint ventures advancing beyond buyer-seller dynamics, including licensed production of the 9M730 Burevestnik-derived cruise missile engine and the AL-41F1S turbofan with 80% local content by 2032. Key deals may cover additional S-400 air defence systems—proven effective in India's May 2025 Operation Sindoor—alongside explorations for S-500 upgrades and Su-57 fighter jets. The February 2025 reciprocal military logistics pact, ratified by Moscow in October, will enable in-India co-production of spares for Russian-origin equipment, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities.
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Energy and nuclear cooperation will feature prominently, with progress on completing Phases II and III of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu and proposals for small modular reactors (SMRs) in regions with limited grids, including a thorium-based MoU with Maharashtra. Rosatom's offers aim to localise nuclear equipment amid India's diversification efforts, while broader energy talks may secure long-term oil supply clarity despite sanctions.
Emerging sectors like space, civil aviation, critical minerals, healthcare, and media exchanges are expected to yield agreements, including a labour mobility pact to deploy skilled Indian workers in Russia—addressing Moscow's post-COVID and Ukraine-related shortages. Maritime and investment projects in Russia's Far East, plus revisions to the RIC (Russia-India-China) trilateral and SCO defence consultations, will reinforce the partnership as a flexible node in BRICS-plus initiatives.
Overall, the summit is projected to culminate in a joint statement and up to 20 bilateral pacts, emphasising multipolar transition without formal alliances. As both nations navigate U.S. selective withdrawals and economic weaponisation, the outcomes will signal India's strategic autonomy and Russia's pivot to reliable partners, potentially targeting $100 billion in trade by 2030.
