Modi-Putin summit puts U.S on edge? Trump watches as India-Russia set to expand defence ties

India is exploring new Russian fighter jets just as Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi, and the timing couldn’t be more politically charged. On the surface, this looks like a routine defence conversation between two long-time partners. But underneath is a deeper geopolitical test: can India continue expanding its strategic space with Moscow while Washington grows increasingly uneasy? Donald Trump may be irritated today, but he has only three years left. India and Russia have a foundation built over decades, from nuclear energy to defence technology to diplomatic coordination. The real question this story tackles is bigger: what does a resilient India–Russia partnership mean for an America that wants influence in Asia but dislikes India’s ties with Moscow? Does this visit complicate the trade deal with the U.S., or does it simply expose the limits of American leverage over New Delhi? And in a world where alliances are shifting fast, who really gets to decide how India balances its friendships? Ananya Dutta decodes on Grey Zone.