New Delhi, Dec. 10 -- In December 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India - which included lengthy bilateral meals, ceremonial greetings, and several defense and economic agreements - appeared to be a reunion of long-standing friendships. Beneath the photo-ops, however, lay a more significant reality about India's current foreign policy: multipolarity has evolved from a rhetorical device to an operational cover for New Delhi. To protect strategic space, manage external pressure, and advance national goals without formal alignment, the visit crystallized a purposeful, instrumental use of multiple great-power engagements. This was more than Russia's return as an old ally; it was India showcasing how to use global flux as a b...