India is strengthening its bond with Russia

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India is strengthening its bond with Russia at a time when many expected those ties to fade. They have announced fresh deals worth 17 billion dollars – that is a massive wager on oil and arms. You might think India would distance itself from Russia, given sanctions and shifting global alliances, but no. Officials in Delhi seem set on deepening this old cold-war friendship, which has already saved India billions by purchasing discounted oil. And it is not just about fuel – defence is a huge part of the pact. India still buys around 65 percent of its arms from Russia and is looking to co-produce more.