Russian President Vladimir Putin has said any attempt to undermine India’s sovereignty through sanctions or external pressure would “boomerang immediately” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while reiterating Moscow’s commitment to its long-standing strategic partnership with New Delhi.
Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin was responding to a question on remarks he made during an interaction with heads of leading global news agencies, a day earlier.
“India always acts as a sovereign country, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, any potential threats of sanctions would boomerang immediately,” Putin said.
Recalling his long association with the Indian Prime Minister, Putin referred to a period when Modi was barred from entering the United States.
“I know PM Modi will never forget about it,” Putin said. “Now that he is (the) prime minister, all the sanctions have been eliminated, and the relationship between the US and India is developing successfully as far as I understand.”
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Asked about the possibility of India facing US sanctions if it procures advanced Russian defence platforms such as the Su-57 fighter aircraft or the S-500 air defence system, Putin stressed that India would continue to act according to its national interests.
“India is a sovereign country, and it is free to choose those products that they consider to be most up to date and most applicable for them and obviously offering the best price,” he said.
“India is always guided by its national interests,” he added.
Putin also emphasised the depth of Indo-Russian defence cooperation, highlighting joint research and development projects, including work on the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
Referring to the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet, Putin said Russia remains willing to supply the aircraft to India after an earlier proposal for joint development did not materialise.
For decades, Russia has been India’s principal defence supplier, although New Delhi has increasingly diversified its procurement strategy in recent years amid supply disruptions linked to the Ukraine conflict.
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