In a direct response to US economic pressure on India, Russia has unveiled a major defense proposal centered on its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet. The US recently imposed 50% tariffs, half of which are a stated penalty for India’s oil trade with Russia.
This was followed by Donald Trump’s claim that PM Modi “assured” him the oil trade would stop.
Russia’s Ambassador, Denis Alipov, fired back on two fronts. He defended the oil trade as “beneficial” for India’s economy. Then, he announced the defense push, reminding India that 70% of its military hardware is Russian-made.
The offer to co-produce the Su-57, along with drones and advanced radar, is a significant strategic move. It reinforces Russia’s “unique” partnership, which Alipov said is “rooted in battlefield experience.”
This move effectively asks India to choose: a partnership offering “full technology-sharing” or one that imposes punitive tariffs for independent policy choices.
