IntelBrief: Russian Setbacks Lead India to Reconsider its Relationship with Moscow

Bottom Line up Front

• India and Russia have historic ties and common interests that have led New Delhi to straddle a middle ground between Moscow and the West with respect to the Ukraine war.
• Russia’s August battlefield setbacks in Ukraine have caused some Indian leaders to question whether Moscow remains a reliable and effective strategic partner.
• India remains highly dependent on Russian arms imports and has noticeably increased its purchases of Russian energy exports in recent months..
• Russia’s isolation and military setbacks could prompt India to move closer to the United States and U.S.-led groupings such as the Quad and I2U2.