India Leases Russian Nuke Sub for $2-B

India will pay about $2 billion to lease a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia, finalizing delivery after roughly a decade of negotiations just as Russian President Vladimir Putin visits New Delhi, Bloomberg News reported.

The move may also reflect geopolitical recalibration following President Donald Trump’s decision to target India with 50% punitive tariffs earlier this year. (Photo: Andrei Luzik, Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation) 

Talks over leasing the attack submarine had repeatedly stalled due to price disputes, but both sides have now reached an agreement, with Indian officials visiting a Russian shipyard in November. India expects to receive the vessel within two years, though the complexity of the project could delay that timeline.

The move may also reflect geopolitical recalibration following President Donald Trump’s decision to target India with 50% punitive tariffs earlier this year as part of his expanded trade war.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has since moved to strengthen ties with Russia and China, emphasizing India’s strategic autonomy.

Previous U.S. administrations had sought to cultivate India as a counterweight to China and Russia — a strategy critics say Trump has undermined in a matter of months.