Can India balance its ties between Russia and the US?
In December 2025, India is attempting to balance its relationships with both Russia and the United States. Despite pressure from Washington, New Delhi has been deepening economic ties with Moscow, including purchasing Russian oil, weapons, and critical minerals.

Briefing Summary
AI-generatedIn December 2025, India is attempting to balance its relationships with both Russia and the United States. Despite pressure from Washington, New Delhi has been deepening economic ties with Moscow, including purchasing Russian oil, weapons, and critical minerals. This allows Russia to maintain powerful partnerships and avoid complete isolation from Western sanctions. However, India's Prime Minister Modi faces the challenge of maintaining strong relations with the U.S., India's biggest trading partner, while simultaneously pursuing deals with Russia to ensure energy security. The situation highlights India's hedging strategy between economic interests and strategic partnerships.
Article analysis
Model · rule-basedKey claims
5 extractedWashington is India's biggest trading partner.
India has continued buying cheap Russian oil.
New Delhi is deepening economic ties with Moscow, despite pressure from Washington.
India has recently strengthened economic ties with Russia — from trade to weapons and critical minerals.
For President Vladimir Putin, it shows Russia still has powerful partners and is not completely isolated.