US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently admitted that Washington was left frustrated by India's close relations with Russia, especially in the defence sector, which were a red flag for the North American nation.
He went on to say that India's continued acquisition of Russian military items had "rubbed" America the "wrong way".
"There were certain things that the Indian government did that generally rubbed the United States the wrong way. For instance, they generally buy military gear from Russia. That's a way to kind of get under the skin of America, if you go to buy your armaments from Russia," Lutnick said during his address at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) in the American capital earlier this week.
Notably, Bloomberg previously cited Indian military sources to claim that the country's armed forces were cutting down their purchases of Russian defence equipment and moving ahead with their procurement plans of American gear.
In a report published in December 2024, the publication claimed that India had shelved its plans to purchase military aircraft and helicopters from Russia. However, these appear to be mere speculations at best, as the Su-57 remains one of the frontrunners if New Delhi decides to procure a fifth-generation fighter jet for its air force fleet at a time when rival countries already operate hundreds of stealth warplanes.
Moreover, there seems to be pro-Russian fervour in India at the moment, considering the success of Russian military platforms like the S-400 and the Indo-Russian joint venture, BrahMos, during Operation Sindoor.
Additionally, military veterans have highlighted that Russia remains one of the most trusted defence suppliers to India.
Moscow's willingness to transfer critical defence technology, unlike Western powerhouses like the US, has often been cited as one of the most promising features of this partnership.
"India's relationship with Russia cannot be equated in numbers. After all, Russia has supported India with tech and hardware when the rest of the world hesitated," underscored retired Indian Army Major Manik M Jolly.
Right from submarines, including the K-43 nuclear-powered submarine, to the MiG and Sukhoi fleets, the majority of air defense systems, the formidable S-400s, and the jewel of the Indian missile system — Brahmos, Russia has provided India with assistance in the direct transfer of technology (ToT), maintenance, and the establishment of new production lines, he added.
India's supersonic Brahmos
© AP Photo / AJIT KUMAR
Most importantly, the angle that the US commerce secretary was hinting at is a quintessential American style. Russia has never tried to make India do its bidding because they are our major weapons and armaments supplier. The relationship has stayed mutually respectful and supportive, the defence pundit asserted.
"Hence, it is unimaginable for India to give up Russian systems, not only because they are as advanced as it gets, but also because there are things beyond numbers. Rather, I'm very sure that the next import, if and when India goes for it, will be one of the biggest deals in India's defence procurement history, involving Su-57s and S-500s," Jolly emphasised.
Indian and Russian defence partnership will only grow from this point. While India would hope for getting Su-57s, some Naval add-ons, EW equipment, and S-500s to bolster its defence capability, Russia will and should start importing from India too, he argued.
With India's enhanced production capability, India will stand by Russia to provide the weapons, equipment, and ammunition it needs, which is a part of New Delhi's indigenous production plan, the observer suggested.
"Also, there's a very solid scope in drones and Space Command's joint R&D and production capabilities. The magic that joint ventures like Brahmos can achieve, turning it into a league of its own, can surely be replicated in many other fields, especially drones, aircraft, and missiles," Jolly stressed.
Meanwhile, strategic affairs commentator Dr Anant Bhagwat, the Founder-President of national security think tank Global Strategic Policy Foundation Pune (GSPFP), cautioned the US against getting optimistic regarding the chances of India severing its defence procurement from Russia.
While the US says that India should expand its defence ties, Washington supports India's arch-foe Pakistan, which has been under direct or indirect military rule since its inception, he noted.
"The US is only interested in signing defence contracts worth billions of dollars with India. If Americans were so sincere in supporting India, they would have shared critical defence technology, helping it transform into a military superpower by now. But all India has got in return is political pressure, arm-twisting, and second-line weapons, proving that the US can never be trusted and relied upon," Bhagwat said in an interview with Sputnik India.
America's repeated attempts to wean India away from Russia reek of a colonial mindset, as Washington is yet to come to terms with Bharat's rising stature in today's geopolitics. Thankfully, New Delhi has countered these pressure tactics in the past and is doing the same right now, he concluded.