Modi–Putin Talks Confirm Official Visit; Signal BRICS Pushback as Trump’s 50% Tariffs Over Russian Oil Spur India’s Strategic Recalibration

The Indian Ministry of Defence on Friday rejected a Reuters report claiming that New Delhi had paused talks on major defence purchases from the United States, calling the report “false and fabricated.” In a statement, ministry officials said procurement cases “are being progressed as per the extant procedures.” An earlier version of this story cited the Reuters report; the reference was inadvertent and is deeply regretted.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a detailed phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, reaffirming the India–Russia “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” just days after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50% over New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases.

The call came as tariff tensions between Washington and New Delhi intensified, with the Trump administration accusing India of “undermining U.S. foreign policy” by continuing energy imports from Russia. 

Image Source: Russia News on X

According to Modi, the leaders reviewed progress on bilateral cooperation and discussed the conflict in Ukraine, with the Indian Prime Minister reiterating his country’s stance in favour of a peaceful resolution. 

Modi invited Putin to India later this year for the Annual Bilateral Summit, a visit now “almost finalised” according to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who met the Russian president in Moscow a day earlier.

The talks follow a Kremlin statement backing India’s right to choose its own trading partners. “Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, calling U.S. attempts to force countries to cut ties with Russia “illegitimate.”

India has defended its oil imports as market-driven and vital for the energy security of 1.4 billion citizens, calling Trump’s measures “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” 

The Ministry of External Affairs has also noted Western nations continue to trade with Russia when it suits their interests.

Domestically, Modi has linked the tariff issue to his pledge not to compromise on the interests of Indian farmers, livestock holders, and fishermen, even at personal political cost. 

Speaking at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference, he urged agricultural scientists to shift their focus from food security to nutritional security, while reiterating that protecting primary producers remains his government’s priority.

The geopolitical context extends beyond India–U.S. tensions. Putin’s expected visit comes as BRICS nations, particularly India and Brazil, coordinate more closely in resisting what they term “unilateral trade coercion.” 

Both face elevated U.S. tariffs over their ties with Russia, and both are exploring expanded trade agreements and financial integration, including linking India’s UPI and Brazil’s PIX payment systems.

For Moscow, the outreach to India also fits into a broader realignment following its withdrawal from arms-control treaties and increased focus on the Indo-Pacific. 

Analysts note BRICS is evolving from an economic forum into a political counterweight to the U.S.-led order, with energy security, trade sovereignty, and defence cooperation at the core of its agenda.

Correction and Clarification: 

An earlier version of this article incorrectly cited a Reuters report suggesting India had paused defence purchase talks with the United States. The Ministry of Defence has since stated that the report is “false and fabricated,” and that procurement processes continue under established procedures. The error was inadvertent and is deeply regretted.