India, May 1 -- In an international system increasingly shaped by transactional politics, shifting alliances, and strategic recalibrations, the India-Russia partnership has emerged as a resilient pillar of continuity. With Donald Trump's return to the White House in a hypothetical second term, the global order once again leans toward unpredictability. For India, this is both a challenge and an opportunity - to strengthen its traditional ties with Moscow, while continuing to pursue a multi-aligned foreign policy that safeguards its national interests.

India and Russia have shared a durable partnership rooted in Cold War camaraderie, cemented in the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty and formalised into a 'special and privileged strategic partnership...