India, Dec 04: The high profile Modi–Putin engagement in New Delhi on Thursday and Friday has triggered heightened scrutiny in Washington, where foreign policy experts are analysing both the optics and the outcomes of the bilateral discussions.
Several leading US analysts told IANS that the national security establishment will be watching the tone of the summit, the nature of agreements signed, and the political response from the White House.
Lisa Curtis, former Trump Administration official and currently Senior Fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, said the United States “will not find this meeting helpful,” especially as “President Putin is escalating his war against Ukraine and even threatening Europe with drone incursions and cyber-attacks.”
Curtis said the visit sends a clear diplomatic message that India “will not be bullied,” referring to recent US pressure tactics including steep tariffs on Indian imports and outreach to Pakistan’s military leadership. Hosting Putin, she added, underlines New Delhi’s resolve to protect its strategic autonomy.
On President Donald Trump’s likely reaction, Curtis noted his responses “can be somewhat unpredictable,” recalling his displeasure after PM Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping earlier this year. However, she pointed out that the administration is currently engaged in “very sensitive talks” with Russia, suggesting Washington may avoid a strong public reaction.
At the Brookings Institution, Senior Fellow Tanvi Madan said US officials will closely assess two things: the degree of ceremonial honour accorded to Putin and the substance of agreements on defence and energy. She said Washington will also track India’s imports of Russian oil, a recurring friction point with the US.
Madan added that the Trump Administration’s response will depend heavily on “what deals are actually signed” between India and Russia.
Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Centre for a New American Security and former State Department official, said Washington’s reaction is hard to predict. While some in the US may react sharply to a “red carpet” welcome for Putin, Trump’s own envoys including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were in Moscow just a day earlier for Ukraine-related discussions.
Lindsey Ford, former Biden Administration official and now Senior Fellow at ORF America, said Washington is looking beyond symbolism. She noted that US officials have welcomed the decline in India-Russia energy trade but remain concerned about cooperation in sensitive sectors such as defence and technology, which are “very important in the US–India relationship.”
Ford said it would be premature to speculate on the White House’s reaction until the summit’s outcomes are clearer.
The Modi–Putin meeting comes at a moment when US policy toward Russia is in flux. Trump has positioned himself as a potential mediator in the Ukraine conflict, even as the administration tries to maintain pressure on Moscow while preserving strong ties with India a key partner in the Indo-Pacific strategy.
For now, analysts say Washington’s reaction will hinge on two key factors:
How warmly New Delhi publicly embraces Putin, and
What concrete defence, energy, or technology agreements emerge behind closed doors.
These elements will determine whether the US responds sharply, adopts a cautious tone, or opts for strategic silence.