By: Shreeya Mittal and Tamanna Yadav
Image Source: Social media platform 'X'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tweet.
Introduction
Russian President Vladimir Putin received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi late
on Monday, July 8th. He offered him a tour of his house outside of Moscow before
their formal discussions at the Kremlin on Tuesday. The Russian president offered
Modi, who is on his first visit to Russia in five years, tea, berries, and sweets and
took him on a tour of the grounds in a motorized cart. According to Russia's official
news agency TASS, Putin greeted the Indian leader at his Novo-Ogaryovo mansion
with the words "Dear friend," expressing his gladness to meet him, while Modi called
the visit a “wonderful opportunity to deepen ties” between the two countries in a post
on the social media platform X.
Hours before India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Moscow, Russia fired
missiles on Ukraine killing at least 41 people, including four children at a children's
hospital in Kyiv. The attack sparked widespread global condemnation, yet Modi was
seen smiling with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he posed for photos. It soon
became evident, though, that Modi's purpose for the visit was to reaffirm the
long-standing strategic and economic links between the two nations rather than to
confront Putin over his actions in Ukraine. The Indian leader is still balancing
between the East and the West, and it seems that part of his engagement is an effort
to reduce the Kremlin's reliance on China, a regional adversary.
Russia has been a significant arms supplier to India since the end of the Cold War,
and the two countries enjoy close defence and strategic relations. India has received
technological assistance from Russia throughout the years to help with the
development of several nuclear power projects. Since the beginning of the conflict in
Ukraine, Delhi has also been buying discounted oil from Moscow worth billions of
dollars, when Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia to limit the quantity of
oil it could sell or charge for the commodity. India is Russia's main source of financial
support; trade between the two countries reached about $65 billion last year.
Details of the Meet
The leaders resumed their discussions on Tuesday over Russian shipments that are
essential for Indian power plants. "Civil nuclear cooperation and India's reliance on
Russian crude oil make energy cooperation a critical issue," says Bajpaee. The main
pillars of the relationship are defence co-operation, energy, and science and
technology. However, there were still issues between Delhi and Moscow as Modi
tried to get the early release of dozens of Indian citizens who had been persuaded to
enlist in the Russian Army in order to fight Ukraine in previous years; at least four of
them had already lost their lives in combat.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia raised several questions and doubts within India
and the West. India has had a strong bilateral relationship with both the U.S. and
Russia. India needs a strong hold in South Asia as two of its neighbors, China and
Pakistan, are working together, which is not a positive sign for India. India has had
sore relations with Pakistan since independence and with China.
Analysis
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia raised several concerns and questions in the
West. India has had a strong bilateral relationship with Russia since the end of the
Cold War. In recent years, India- U.S. relations have witnessed significant growth
and empowerment. This is a specimen to India’s usage of strategic alignment as a
foreign policy tool, carefully balancing its relations with both countries. However,
visits like these raise questions. But it is important to note that nothing in
international relations is black and white. The grey between Russia and India has
more to do with intention and the procedure of dealing with complex issues.
For India, its sour relations with its neighbours calls for it to improve its relations with
Russia. With China and Pakistan working together, India needed to maintain a
stronghold in South Asia, and building its relations with powerful nations like Russia
is essential to this. Historically, Russia has supported India during its clashes with
Pakistan. This justifies the importance Russia has to the country. However, Russian
relations with China are improving, and their growing friendship may be a cause of
concern for India.
India’s visit to Russia was intended to restore the fallout of the failed annual summits which
has been going on for decades. There has been a transition of agenda from focusing
on defence to progressing towards more relevant pillars such as the vast potential
for energy cooperation and natural resources. India needs to import cheap energy to
cater to its growing population with a GDP growth rate of 7-8%. Furthermore, for
India to cater to its national aim and become a 10 trillion economy, access to natural
resources is essential which Russia has an abundance of.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia underscores the
delicate balance India maintains in its foreign policy, navigating its relationships with
major global powers amidst complex geopolitical dynamics. Despite the timing of the
visit coinciding with heightened global tensions due to Russia's actions in Ukraine,
Modi's primary aim was to reaffirm and strengthen the longstanding strategic and
economic ties between India and Russia. The discussions emphasized crucial areas
such as defence, energy cooperation, and technological collaboration, which are vital
for India's growth and security needs.
India's engagement with Russia is driven by pragmatic considerations, including its
need for affordable energy resources and technological support. Additionally, the
historical support from Russia during conflicts with Pakistan and the growing
concerns over China-Pakistan relations further justify India's diplomatic efforts with
Moscow. As India continues to navigate its path towards becoming a $10 trillion
economy, securing reliable partnerships and access to essential resources remains
a key priority.
While the visit has sparked debates and concerns, it highlights the nuanced and
multifaceted nature of international relations. India's approach of maintaining
strategic autonomy and balancing its ties with both Western nations and Russia
demonstrates its efforts to safeguard national interests and enhance its regional and
global standing.
Bibliography
https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/07/10/modi-putin-summit-india-russia-us-relations/#:~:
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https://www.reuters.com/world/india/putin-meet-indias-modi-talks-moscow-monday-2
024-07-08/
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