Friday saw a pivotal meeting. Putin and Modi sat down for their annual summit, and the outcome? A push to broaden economic cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi.

The timing's no coincidence. Washington's been cranking up pressure on India, urging a rethink of its longstanding ties with Russia—a relationship that goes back decades. But India's playing its own game here.

What's at stake? Diversification of trade routes, energy deals, and possibly new payment corridors that could bypass traditional Western-dominated systems. For anyone watching global capital flows, this matters. Shifts in these partnerships could ripple through commodity markets, currency dynamics, and even alternative financial infrastructure.

The geopolitical chess game continues. And as alliances evolve, so do the economic rulebooks.