Modi, Putin strengthen ties, thwart Washington’s efforts to isolate Russia

The US expressed its “concerns” to India over its relationship with Russia during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow, where India-Russia friendship was highlighted by Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Analysts have said that closer ties between Russia and India mean that the US’s relentless effort to contain and isolate Russia since the Ukraine crisis began is being thwarted. Meanwhile, India’s balanced diplomacy is not only aligned with its own interests but also contributes to a global strategic balance that has long been challenged by US hegemony.

Modi began his two-day visit to Russia on Monday with a warm welcome from Putin, before the two leaders engaged in official talks at the Kremlin on Tuesday. According to media reports, Putin welcomed Modi to his home in Novo-Ogaryovo, offering tea, berries and sweets, and taking him on a tour of the grounds in a motorized cart.

“Visiting a friend’s house is a great pleasure,” Modi said on Monday, according to a report by Russian news agency TASS. Modi also posted photos on X upon arriving in Moscow, in both English and Russian, saying that stronger ties between India and Russia “will greatly benefit our people.”

In a post on X on Tuesday, Modi said the talks between the two leaders “will certainly contribute to further strengthening the ties of friendship between India and Russia.” Modi also shared photos of himself hugging and shaking hands with Putin.

While Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “no joint communications with the media are planned” ahead of Tuesday’s official talks, TASS said the meeting between Putin and Modi was expected to focus on trade, economics and issues of “regional and global significance,” which analysts interpreted as energy cooperation and the crisis in Ukraine.

Responding to Modi’s visit, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing on Monday (local time) that the US government “has made very clear directly with India our concerns about its relationship with Russia” and expects India to make clear that Russia must respect the UN Charter and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity when engaging with Russia.

Modi’s visit to Russia illustrates India’s foreign policy balance among major powers, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

According to the expert, the biggest challenge in the current geopolitical scenario is US hegemony, which allows Washington to act arbitrarily and without restrictions.

Deepening Russia-India relations is an important step toward global strategic balance, Li said. “Modi’s interaction with Putin in Russia can be considered positive as long as it helps ease the Russia-Ukraine conflict, makes stability in Europe more promising and further balances major power relations,” he said.

The visit comes just ahead of a NATO summit in Washington, a gathering widely seen as targeting Russia.

Despite a lavish reception for Modi in the US during his state visit to the country last year, it is clear that India is not giving in to the US attempt to persuade it to confront Russia, Li said.

India, a great power with a tradition of strategic autonomy, is well aware of the falsehoods of US diplomacy, Li said. “The US-India relationship is one where each gets what it needs. India has been pragmatic in contrast to America’s illusory courtship,” he said.

According to media reports, India refused to adhere to Western sanctions against Russia following the Ukraine crisis, turning to Russia for discounted energy imports, with over 40% of its oil imports coming from Russia. Meanwhile, Russia remains a key supplier of military equipment to India.

“The closer relationship between India and Russia shows the failure of the US strategy to contain and isolate Russia… this signifies deep frustration for the elites in Washington,” Li said.

Analysts said that regardless of who takes over the White House in a few months, India’s policy towards Russia will remain consistent, meaning India is unlikely to completely follow the US and isolate Russia.

Via Global Times