India's Foreign Policy Shift Threatens Friendship With Moscow

Recent diplomatic summits reveal a notable shift in India's foreign stance, raising concerns in Moscow over New Delhi's delicate balancing act. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek and the BRICS summit in New Delhi, India endorsed declarations that condemned attacks on Iran and mourned the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a public appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, drawing mixed reactions from global allies.

Diplomatic Pressures

India faced growing diplomatic marginalisation following Operation Sindoor in 2025, while Pakistan gained prominence as a mediator for the conflict with Iran. To secure a successful BRICS summit and avoid alienating Russia and China, New Delhi joined consensus statements critical of Israel and supportive of Palestinian rights. However, analysts note that Mr. Modi's public appeal to Mr. Putin served as a counter-signal to Washington, demonstrating alignment with Western positions on Ukraine while continuing to buy Russian oil.

Context

India's historical policy of strategic autonomy involves maintaining ties with both Western and non-Western nations simultaneously. Balancing relationships with traditional partners like Russia alongside newer strategic partnerships with the United States and its allies has become increasingly challenging amid global geopolitical shifts.