Russian President Vladimir Putin’s landslide victory in the Presidential Elections was no surprise, marking his extension of rule by another six years. Despite facing nominal opposition, Putin’s win was expected amidst a backdrop of crackdowns on dissent, opposition figures, and media freedoms, leaving voters with limited choices.
PM Modi Congratulates President Putin
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to extend his congratulations to President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, expressing anticipation for further strengthening the enduring Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.
About the elections
Putin’s victory, securing over 87 percent of the votes, positions him to become Russia’s longest-serving leader in over 200 years, surpassing even Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. However, criticisms from the US, Germany, the UK, and others have highlighted concerns over the fairness of the election due to political imprisonments and censorship.
In a post-election press conference, Putin cautioned against direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO forces, warning of the dire consequences of such a scenario, likening it to “just one step away from the Third World War.” Emphasizing the need for peace, Putin dismissed escalatory rhetoric and stressed the importance of international cooperation.
President Putin’s remarks come amidst rising tensions with NATO, particularly following comments by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding potential French military intervention in Ukraine. Putin countered, citing NATO troop presence in Ukraine and urging for peace efforts to prevail.
His history in Russian politics spans back to his nomination as acting president in 1999, leading to his subsequent election victories in 2000, 2004, 2012, and 2018. Despite constitutional limitations, Putin’s return to the presidency in 2012 solidified his continued influence over Russian politics.
Re-election also underscores the enduring support he enjoys among Russians, particularly amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As Western nations grapple with assisting Ukraine, Putin’s commitment to supporting Russian interests in the region remains steadfast.
The recent inclusion of Sweden and Finland into NATO has escalated tensions, posing challenges to regional stability. Despite NATO’s aspirations to integrate Ukraine, Russian opposition and ongoing conflict present significant obstacles.
Global South and India
Despite geopolitical challenges, President Putin’s positive relationship with India remains intact, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s steadfast commitment to the India-Russia partnership evident. India’s refusal to align with European perspectives on Russia reflects its dedication to maintaining bilateral relations.
According to former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, “Putin’s personal investment in the India-Russia relationship ensures its continued stability despite external constraints, fostering mutual cooperation and strategic alignment.”
Moreover, Russia’s strategic alliances with countries like Vietnam, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey, Egypt, and notably, China, further solidify its global position. Putin’s reaffirmation of strengthened ties with China post-election underscores Russia’s commitment to expanding its influence on the global stage.
Sharing his views with Financial Express Online, Prof Rajan Kumar, School of International Studies, JNU said: “I do not see any shift in New Delhi’s policy towards Russia. India pursues a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of a country. Therefore, New Delhi is not concerned about the status of democracy in Russia. Re-election of Putin means continuation of Moscow’s existing policy towards India. President Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov have praised India’s neutral policy on several occasions for not joining the Western sanctions.”
Despite western pressure, India continued to import energy and defence products from Russia. This has served New Delhi’s interests well. “It is believed that India saved roughly US$ 7 billion by importing cheap Russian oil. Further, New Delhi has comprehensive defence ties with Russia which include importing sophisticated weapons such as S-400 anti-missile system, fighter aircrafts and joint production of BrahMos missiles. Therefore, it is not easy for India to decouple defence ties with Russia,” he opines.
According to him, “External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in his interview with a German newspaper underlined the significance of Russia where he stated that ‘Russia has never hurt the interests of India’ unlike the western states. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that there will be any shift in New Delhi’s policy towards Russia in the coming years.”
Some of the Russian experts have expressed concerns about the disruption of summit-level meetings between the President of Russia and the Prime Minister of India. That is often presented as an instance of downgrade in the relationship between the two countries. Actual reasons for such disruption are not known, but it is expected that the two countries will resume the meeting soon. A meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Putin will take place during the BRICS summit in Russia this year.
To conclude, “Putin’s re-election means a continuation of cordial ties between the two states. In India, the election is due next month but there is a high chance of the present government coming back to power. Under these circumstances, the bonhomie between the two heads of states will continue unabated. New Delhi will pursue its policy of ‘not condemning Russia’ and take steps to strengthen its economic and military ties with Moscow,” states Prof Rajan.
