The event of Russian President Vladimir Putin giving royal treatment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two day visit to Moscow this week has caused serious heartburn in the west, particularly those with myopic strategic vision and unaware of the current complex security environment in Asia and Pacific.
In many ways, PM Modi’s traditional warm embrace of President Putin was a signal to him that Russia does not have to lean for support only from China to counterbalance the western pressure post Ukraine war. It was also a signal to the west making it very clear that India does not want its vulnerability against China to become a vulnerability with Anglo-Saxon powers in future.
The first visit of Indian PM to Austria since 1983 also showed that India was willing to engage a non-NATO power for garnering hi-tech infrastructure technologies and winter equipment.
India, which is not a Nato member, has been stoutly defending its “special and privileged strategic partnership” with Russia and maintained the momentum in the ties notwithstanding the Ukraine conflict.
Notably, New Delhi has not yet condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has consistently pitched for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
PM Modi’s Russian visit irked West and Deep State
The bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin during the former’s recent visit to Moscow has reportedly irked several senior officials of the Joe Biden-led US administration.
During his two-day visit, PM Modi described Russia as India’s “all-weather friend” and expressed special appreciation for his “dear friend” Putin. The Prime Minister, who was conferred Russia’s highest civilian award, commended Putin for steering the India-Russia friendship to greater heights over the last two decades.
US officials were frustrated with the timing of PM Modi’s Russia visit and the hug shared by Putin in the middle of the Nato Summit — which began on July 9 and concluded on July 11. Talks about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remained the hotbed topic of the summit kicked off by Biden.
US officials had acknowledged that the visit was “difficult and uncomfortable” for the Biden administration, which had conveyed to New Delhi that the timing would complicate the ‘optics’ for Washington. Officials said the impression was “terrible” and “deeply inappropriate”.
“Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell spoke with Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra in early July hoping that the Modi-Putin encounter might be rescheduled to avoid coinciding with the Nato Summit,” the report added.
Don’t take our relations for granted – USA to India
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Thursday said that the India-US relationship was wider and deeper than it’s ever been, but it was not deep enough to be taken “for granted”. The remarks are being seen as a blunt message to India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, which is facing several sanctions from the West over its Ukraine invasion.
Addressing a defence conclave in Delhi, the US envoy added that India likes its strategic autonomy, but there is no such thing as “strategic autonomy” during a conflict.
The sharp words of the American diplomat came just hours after PM Modi landed in Delhi after concluding his two-nation visit to Russia and Austria.
West is closely and jealously watching Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that The West is closely and jealously watching Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia on July 8-9, a Russia-based news agency, Tass reported.
“They are jealous – that means they are closely monitoring it. Their close monitoring means they attach great importance to it. And they are not mistaken, there is something to attach great importance to,” Peskov was quoted as saying by Tass.
Chinese are angry that West isn’t outraged enough by Modi meeting Putin
The deepening alignment between China and Russia amid concerns about Moscow falling into Beijing’s orbit likely drove Prime Minister Narendra Modi to choose Russia for his first bilateral visit. The two-day trip resumed the India-Russia annual summit after a two-year hiatus.
The visit has sparked intense debate within the strategic circle of China, which is closely monitoring Modi’s trip. This scrutiny is not unexpected, given China’s significant interests at stake. Beijing relies heavily on Russia to counter the US-led Western coalition.
