dustbin

Introduction: When Optics Become Strategy Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India was widely covered as a ceremonial event. But beneath the visuals lay a carefully calibrated geopolitical message. This was not about alliances, nor about opposing any single bloc. It was about something far more consequential: demonstrating how power operates in a post-unipolar world. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Vladimir Putin at the airport, it wasn’t a casual gesture. Such protocol deviations are rare and deliberate. They signal exceptional diplomatic weight—reserved for relationships that operate beyond transactional politics. The Guard of Honour in Delhi conveyed institutional respect, not military alignment. Notably absent were statements about joint military blocs or ideological positioning. Instead, the emphasis remained on sovereignty and mutual recognition. Images of Putin and Modi standing together in the rain during a tribute resonated globally. Di...