New Delhi

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (Dec 27) referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "friend" whom he wishes "every success" in reference to India's upcoming general elections in the summer of 2024. 

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Putin said that the "traditional conventional friendly ties" will persist between India and Moscow "no matter what the alignment of political forces" is. 

The outcome of upcoming Lok Sabha polls, in which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party will be seeking a third consecutive term in power, remains very important for India’s foreign policy posture. 

But Putin's comment that friendly ties will persist between India and Russia "no matter the alignment of political forces", reflects the depth of Moscow-Delhi ties. This geopolitical depth between the two countries, Putin indicated, remains immune to the developments elsewhere in the world, especially during ongoing war in Ukraine. 

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Also read | Putin invites PM Modi to Russia during his meeting with EAM Jaishankar

Putin's comment came hours after India's Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar during his visit to Moscow referred to India-Russia ties as the "only constant" in world politics. 

Reading into Putin wishing well for Modi: What does it mean?

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In the recent weeks, Putin has expressed notes of praise for Indian Prime Minister Narendra  Modi.

"Let me say that the relations between Russia and India are consistently developing in all areas, and the main guarantor for that is the policy led by Prime Minister Modi," Putin had said on December 7 in St. Petersburg. 

Also read | Putin praises India, says PM Modi 'guarantor' of stronger Moscow-Delhi ties

"I cannot imagine His Excellency Modi getting intimidated or being forced to take any steps or actions that would go against the national interests of India and the people of India," Putin said, in an indirect reference to India buying Russian oil despite war in Ukraine. 

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New Delhi has staunchly defended its purchase of Russian oil when accused by the West of ‘funding the war in Ukraine’.

Just two months before launching an offensive on Ukraine in February 2022, Putin visited New Delhi in December 2021 for annual India-Russia summit. 

Also read | Putin’s actions in Ukraine do not make Indians anti-Russia. Here’s why

Besides, if the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance returns to power with an as strong or stronger-than-before mandate, India's position of its evolving ties with various countries of the world is expected to remain consistent, if not sharper than now. 

India-Russia ties: What is the bottom-line ahead of 2024 polls?

The consistency in ties with New Delhi, at a time when Russia is facing isolation from the collective West due to war in Ukraine, remains a geopolitical asset for Moscow's corridors of power. An asset Putin would least want to lose.