- Ajit Doval’s high-profile journey to Moscow, culminating in meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, comes at a time of increased global instability.
- India’s energy purchase is “driven by national interest and market dynamics,” rather than by external diktat.
- The agenda in Moscow focused on increasing defence ties, expanding energy collaborations, and laying the groundwork for President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India later this year.
- This Doval trip is neither a hasty response to Trump’s tariffs nor a knee-jerk reaction to US economic pressure.
Reasserting India’s Strategic Autonomy
Ajit Doval, India’s national security advisor, is currently in Moscow,[1] and the optics could not be clearer. His high-profile journey to Moscow, culminating in meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, comes at a time of increased global instability. The world is seeing a major increase in protectionism, with President Donald Trump’s administration doubling down on harsh tariffs on Indian exports,[2] citing New Delhi’s energy links with Moscow as the reason. However, the visit was pre-planned, with reports from media indicating that it was part of normal bilateral talks rather than a direct response to US tariff threats.[3] The timing, although coincidental, emphasised India’s geopolitical position in a multipolar world. But here’s the thing: Doval’s mission is not a response to US pressure. It is deliberate. It represents India’s independent foreign policy in action.
India’s Independent Foreign Policy: The Strategic Context
India’s foreign policy, governed by Panchsheel values and a strong heritage of strategic autonomy, has continuously stressed sovereign decision-making, upheld long-standing alliances, and pursued a multi-alignment strategy. Even as international alliances and rivalries grow, whether between the United States, China, Russia or the European Union, India’s attitude remains one of balance, not bandwagoning.
Ajit Doval’s meetings in Moscow, which included discussions on energy, defence cooperation,[4] and preparations for President Putin’s upcoming visit to India, highlight the continuity of India-Russia ties.[5] Indian officials have been explicit in their statements: India’s energy purchase is “driven by national interest and market dynamics,” rather than by external diktat. The Kremlin, repeating New Delhi’s stance, stressed that “sovereign countries have the right to choose their trading partners,” rejecting what it called “illegitimate” US efforts to force a realignment in energy commerce.[6]
India has enormous energy needs, and supply diversification is a strategic imperative.
Not a Response to Trump’s Tariff War
Ajit Doval’s journey to Moscow was the result of a well-planned diplomatic calendar, with the goal of expanding India-Russia ties in accordance with decades of strategic engagement. It was not a hasty reaction to Donald Trump’s unexpected tariff increase. The US president’s decision to raise tariffs on Indian exports to 50% has heightened tensions, but Doval’s mandate was founded on principles that predated Washington’s action.
The agenda in Moscow focused on increasing defence ties, expanding energy collaborations, and laying the groundwork for President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India later this year. These are the signs of a mature, long-term alliance, not the symptoms of a hasty foreign policy shift. Given the date overlap, the optics may lead to speculation, but the substance suggests a different tale. New Delhi has stated unequivocally that its trade, energy and defence purchase decisions are concerns of sovereignty, not bargaining chips in someone else’s economic standoff. In response to the questions about the tariff hike, the administration has stated explicitly that India will act in its national interest, whether that means purchasing inexpensive Russian oil, finishing defence contracts or engaging in strategic conversations that benefit its long-term security. PM Modi made it clear that India will not back down when it comes to its farmers, dairy producers and fishermen, “ready to pay a very heavy price,” he declared, defending home interests above external pressure.[7]
Strategic depth: India plays chess, not checkers
India’s expanding economic and strategic importance allows it to more effectively pursue its interests. With a population of more than 1.4 billion and one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India uses its position to balance relationships. The visit to Russia demonstrates this, as India continues to acquire advanced weaponry systems such as the S-400 despite Western sanctions, while expanding oil imports to fulfil energy demands. If the Trump administration’s tariffs are intended to push India away from Russian energy, India’s response has instead demonstrated its ability and willingness to chart its route. India has enormous energy needs, and supply diversification is a strategic imperative. Russian crude oil has emerged as a major tool in this endeavour, providing cost-effective alternatives as well as a buffer against supply disruptions from the Middle East or elsewhere.[8]
At the same time, India’s military and technological collaborations with the US, EU, Japan, and others continue apace, underscoring New Delhi’s capacity for diversified engagement.
India is not isolated. It handles pressure with subtlety. It maintains energy and defence security while keeping the United States at arm’s length when policy diverges. That demonstrates strategic maturity, not rebellion for its own sake.
Looking Ahead
This Doval trip is neither a hasty response to Trump’s tariffs nor a knee-jerk reaction to US economic pressure. It is a clear reaffirmation of India’s long-standing attitude of forging its path in a crowded and disputed global arena. The agenda in Moscow was about securing energy flows, strengthening defence supply chains, and reinforcing counter-terror and strategic cooperation with a partner that has stood by India for decades. It was about deepening relationships that serve the country’s long-term security and economic resilience, not scrambling to find alternatives under duress.
By remaining focused on these priorities even as Washington raises the fire, New Delhi demonstrates that its foreign policy compass is unaffected by short-term turmoil. India is willing to face the expenses of protecting its basic interests, whether that means defending its farmers and industries at home or sustaining diverse ties abroad. This is not rebellion for its own sake; it is confidence based on capability and calculation. India hasn’t reacted to Trump’s trade battle. It pursues thoughtful, independent participation while keeping its options open and priorities clear.
References:
- [1] A day after Trump’s ‘Russian oil’ tariffs, Doval meets Putin in Kremlin
- [2] In tariff spat, Trump wields India-Russia trade against Modi
- [3] Putin receives Indian prime minister’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Kremlin
- [4] Indo-Russian NSAs finalise Putin’s India visit; focus on expansion of defence, counterterror ties
- [5] Dates for Putin’s India visit ‘almost’ finalised, says Ajit Doval
- [6] ‘Have Right To Choose Trading Partners’: Kremlin On India’s Russian Oil Purchase
- [7] Trump Tariffs India Highlights: PM Modi says India will ‘never compromise’ as US slaps new tariffs
- [8] Highest in two years: India increases oil imports from Russia, US amidst Iran-Israel war
Pranav S is a Project Assistant at the Energy Department, Government of Karnataka with an MA in Public Policy. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Daljeet Singh 
Divyanka Tandon 
GeoBharatIntel