Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised India as a “great power” and a “natural ally,” reaffirming the strength of India-Russia relations, which he described as deeply rooted in mutual trust and historical ties. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, Putin highlighted India’s economic prowess, calling it one of the fastest-growing economies and a global leader in growth among large economies, with an impressive annual GDP increase of 7.4 percent.
“We are developing our ties with India in all directions. India is a great country. It is a leader in terms of economic growth among large economies, with its GDP posting an annual growth of 7.4 per cent,” he said, adding that India’s ascent among global superpowers is well-deserved, supported by its rapid economic development and strategic vision.
Reflecting on the unique relationship between the two nations, Putin recalled the Soviet Union’s supportive role during India’s journey to independence, which he said strengthened “relations that are unique in terms of quality and degree of trust. This historical foundation has paved the way for today’s comprehensive bilateral ties, which encompass various spheres, from trade to defense.”
Highlighting the growth of the bilateral trade, Putin said that the trade turnover between India and Russia has reached nearly USD 60 billion. He cited the BrahMos missile project as a prime example of their close defense cooperation, adding that this joint venture not only reflects shared trust but also showcases India and Russia’s commitment to co-developing advanced military technology.
“The Brahmos systems are used in the air and in the sea and this partnership is something that people know about and this testifies to the high level of trust and the high level of our partnership it is going to continue in the future,” Putin said. The BrahMos is named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers of India and Russia. It was formed as a joint venture between Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
Putin also pointed to India and Russia’s collaboration in the defence sector, acknowledging the variety of Russian military equipment used by India’s armed forces. “We don’t just sell our weapons to India; we engage in joint research and design them together,” he said.
Furthermore, Putin spoke about the BRICS bloc, in which India and Russia are key members, describing it as a prototype for modern, non-bloc international cooperation. He said that BRICS fosters “free and non-bloc relations between states and peoples.” At the recent BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia had unveiled a symbolic BRICS banknote, though Putin suggested that a common currency for the bloc was premature.
At the Sochi conference, TASS cited Putin saying, “We do not have such objectives in between because in order to talk about a certain common currency, firstly, greater integration of economies should be achieved and, secondly, the quality of economies should be somehow lifted to a certain level so that these are very similar economies, comparably by quality, by the structure”.
The Russian leader also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contributions to the India-Russia strategic partnership. During PM Modi’s visit to Russia in July for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, President Putin awarded him Russia’s highest civilian honor, the “Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle,” for his role in advancing the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two countries.
Putin reiterated that India remains a vital and longstanding partner for Russia. Referring to India and Russia as “strategic partners” during a recent diplomatic event in Moscow, he commended PM Modi’s leadership and reaffirmed the strong, resilient relationship shared by the two countries.
(Inputs from ANI)
