Modi’s Diplomatic Tightrope: Meeting Putin in Moscow
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin is closely observed by Western allies. This trip marks Modi’s first international journey since his third term began in June. Modi’s arrival in Moscow on Monday coincided with a tragic Russian bombing in Ukraine, which killed 41 people, including at a children’s hospital in Kyiv, causing global outrage.
Photos from the meeting showed a smiling Modi embracing Putin, with a video of Putin referring to Modi as “my dearest friend” going viral in India. This two-day visit, Modi’s first to the Kremlin since 2019, aligns with a NATO summit in Washington, focusing on the 2022 invasion.
India, maintaining strong ties with both Russia and the US, downplays the timing of Modi’s trip. Indian officials emphasize that the annual summit is a part of a long-standing strategic partnership, independent of the NATO summit. However, the US expressed concerns, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller urging Modi to highlight Ukraine’s territorial integrity during his talks with Putin.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Modi’s visit, expressing disappointment and calling it a setback for peace efforts. Modi offered India’s assistance in establishing peace in Ukraine, stating that war is not a solution and condemning the recent attack on the Kyiv children’s hospital.
As NATO holds a summit marking its 75th anniversary, the organization’s opposition to Moscow’s invasion contrasts with India’s neutral stance, which calls for dialogue and diplomacy. Despite Western sanctions aimed at isolating Moscow, Putin continues to engage with leaders from China, India, Turkey, and others.
Modi’s visit raises questions about India’s message, potentially benefiting Russia. Vinay Kwatra, permanent secretary to the Indian foreign ministry, dismissed any link between Modi’s visit and the NATO summit, emphasizing the priority of scheduling.
India and Russia share a deep-rooted defense and strategic relationship, with Russia being a key supplier of weapons to India’s military. Former Indian ambassador to Moscow, Pankaj Saran, highlighted that defense cooperation, energy, and technology are mainstays of this relationship. Russia has also assisted in building several nuclear power plants in India.
Since the Ukraine conflict began, India has increased its purchase of discounted oil from Russia, boosting bilateral trade to $65 billion. However, India’s exports to Russia remain at $4 billion, with Modi aiming to address this trade imbalance and encourage Russian investment and defense production in India.
For two decades, the West, particularly the US, has strengthened ties with India as a counterbalance to China. India’s membership in the Quad, alongside the US, Australia, and Japan, underscores this strategic alignment. Conversely, Putin has cultivated closer ties with China amid Western hostility, a development India closely monitors.
Tensions between India and China escalated after a deadly border clash in Ladakh in June 2020. Concerns persist in India about being excluded from the Moscow-Beijing equation. To mitigate this, Delhi maintains open channels with Russia, avoiding actions that might push Russia closer to China.
Despite diversifying its defense acquisitions, India still relies on Moscow, with concerns about delays in military supplies due to the Ukraine war. Anil Trigunayat, a former ambassador, noted potential discussions on these issues during Modi’s visit.
Additionally, there have been cases of Indian nationals being misled into fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine, with four deaths reported. Modi is expected to press for the early release of these individuals.
India strives to balance its relationships with both the US and Russia to counter China. “India follows a policy of strategic autonomy and multi-alignments,” says Trigunayat, underscoring India’s strategic relationships with both powers as mutually exclusive partnerships.
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