Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived to Russia with his visit just hours after Russian bombing killed at least 41 people in Ukraine, including at a children’s hospital in Kyiv. A move intended to reinforce the relationship with Moscow even as New Delhi strengthens its alliance with the United States to counter China is closely watched by India’s allies in the West.
This marks Modi’s first trip to Russia in five years, writes BBC. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi’s visit is an opportunity to demonstrate that Russia still maintains influential allies despite Western efforts to isolate the nation over the past two years.
Modi’s arrival in Moscow coincides with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Washington, which focuses on continued support for Ukraine as the conflict there drags on. Modi’s visit is the first bilateral engagement of his third term. Earlier, he had met with President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy.
Kanwal Sibal, a former Indian foreign secretary and ambassador to Russia, explained the Wall Street Journal that Modi’s visit would dispel any doubts about the strength of India-Russia relations, despite Western pressures.
Modi and Putin last met in 2022 at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting. Given their agreement to hold annual summits, the upcoming meeting is long overdue, according to Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra cited by the WSJ. The summit is essential for guiding and enhancing bilateral cooperation, he noted.
The relationship between Russia and India dates back to the Cold War, with the Soviet Union being a key military supplier to India. In recent years, however, shared concerns over China’s rising influence have brought India and the U.S. closer. Meanwhile, Russia’s relationship with China has also deepened as both countries confront what they perceive as a Western campaign to constrain them.
India’s strategic aim is to ensure that Russia has alternatives to China, preventing Moscow from becoming overly dependent on Beijing. This strategy is part of India’s broader effort to counter China’s power in the region, especially following the deadly 2020 clash on the India-China border.
Indian analysts cited by the WSJ analysis highlight that it would be challenging to contain China if Russia becomes a subordinate partner to China. Despite skipping a recent peace summit organized by Kyiv, Modi has expressed concern over the ongoing war’s impact on global stability.
The agenda for Modi’s visit also included addressing areas of friction in the India-Russia relationship, such as Russia’s recruitment of Indian nationals for its military efforts. India has been actively seeking the early release of its citizens who were recruited under false pretenses.
There are also concerns about the reliability of Russia as a strategic partner, given its heavy reliance on Chinese technology and its current struggles to produce sufficient military equipment. Indian security officials have indicated that they are reducing their reliance on Russian military hardware, though parts of India’s military still depend on Russian equipment and will require ongoing supplies of spare parts, Reuters reported earlier this year.
