Russian President Vladimir Putin has warmly welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow in a go to the USA stated raised issues amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 2-day go to, which started late on Monday, is Modi’s first to Russia since Moscow launched its marketing campaign in Ukraine and because the Indian chief was returned to energy final month.
Putin embraced Modi at his residence at Novo-Ogaryovo, greeted him as his “pricey pal” and stated he was “very glad” to see him, in keeping with an account by Russia’s TASS state information company.
“Our official talks are tomorrow, whereas at the moment on this comfy, cozy setting we are able to in all probability focus on the identical points, however unofficially,” TASS quoted Putin as saying.
The Russian president provided Modi tea, berries and sweets and took him on a tour of the grounds in a motorised cart.
Modi posted pictures of his arrival in Moscow on X, in each Russian and English, saying he was “wanting ahead to additional deepening the Particular and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations”.
“Stronger ties between our nations will significantly profit our individuals,” he wrote, additionally sharing an image of himself and Putin hugging.
Gratitude to President Putin for internet hosting me at Novo-Ogaryovo this night. Wanting ahead to our talks tomorrow as nicely, which is able to certainly go a good distance in additional cementing the bonds of friendship between India and Russia. pic.twitter.com/eDdgDr0USZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2024
Modi final travelled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a discussion board within the far jap port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. The leaders additionally noticed one another in September 2022 on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, held in Uzbekistan.
Moscow stays a key provider of cut-price oil and weapons to India, particularly following sanctions on Russia imposed by the USA and its allies, which got here in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and shut most Western markets off to Russian exports.
Based on analysts, India now will get greater than 40 p.c of its oil imports from Russia.
Oil and arms
Underneath Modi’s management, India has averted condemning Russia’s navy motion in Ukraine whereas emphasising the necessity for a peaceable settlement. However Russia’s isolation from the West and blooming friendship with Beijing have affected Moscow’s time-honoured partnership with New Delhi.
A confrontation in June 2020 alongside the disputed China-India border dramatically altered their already sensitive relationship as rival troops fought with rocks, golf equipment and fists. At the very least 20 Indian troopers and 4 Chinese language troopers have been killed. Tensions have continued regardless of talks.
Modi notably missed final week’s summit in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a safety grouping based by Moscow and Beijing.
Western powers have in the meantime additionally cultivated ties with India as a bulwark towards China and its rising affect within the Asia Pacific, whereas pressuring it to distance itself from Russia.
India is a part of the so-called Quad grouping with Australia, Japan and the US, which positions itself towards China within the Asia-Pacific area.
The US State Division on Monday urged Modi to clarify in his talks with Putin that “any decision to the battle in Ukraine should… be one which respects the UN Constitution with respect to Ukraine’s territorial integrity”.
Analysts say Modi is predicted to hunt to proceed shut relations with Russia, given Moscow’s position as a serious defence provider for India.
“Defence cooperation will clearly be a precedence space,” Chietigj Bajpaee, a senior South Asia analysis fellow at Chatham Home, instructed the Related Press information company, including that 60 p.c of India’s navy tools and techniques are “nonetheless of Russian origin”.
“We now have seen some delay within the deliveries of spare elements … following the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he stated. “I consider each nations are resulting from conclude a navy logistics settlement, which might pave the way in which for extra defence exchanges.”
Analysts additionally famous that India’s impartial stance on the struggle in Ukraine has bolstered Putin’s efforts to counter what he calls the West’s domination of worldwide affairs.
Following an arrest warrant issued in 2023 by the Worldwide Felony Courtroom for his actions in Ukraine, Putin’s overseas journey has been sparse lately. Modi’s journey, analysts say, might assist the Russian chief enhance his clout.
“We type of see Putin happening a nostalgia journey – you already know, he was in Vietnam, he was in North Korea,” Theresa Fallon, an analyst on the Centre for Russia, Europe, Asia Research, instructed the AP.
“In my opinion, he’s making an attempt to exhibit that he’s not a vassal to China, that he has choices, that Russia remains to be an amazing energy.”
Commerce growth may even determine strongly within the talks, notably the intention to develop a maritime hall between India’s main port of Chennai and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russia’s Far East.
Indian Secretary of Overseas Affairs Vinay Mohan Kwatra instructed reporters on Friday that resulting from sturdy vitality cooperation, India-Russia commerce elevated to almost $65bn within the 2023-24 monetary 12 months.
Imports from Russia touched $60bn and exports from India $4bn within the 2023-24 monetary 12 months, Kwatra stated. India’s monetary 12 months runs from April to March.
He stated India was making an attempt to right the commerce imbalance with Russia by rising its exports.
India’s prime exports to Russia embody medicine and pharmaceutical merchandise, telecom devices, iron and metal, marine merchandise and equipment. Its prime imports from Russia embody crude oil and petroleum merchandise, coal and coke, pearls, treasured and semiprecious stones, fertiliser, vegetable oil, gold and silver.
From Russia, Modi will journey to Vienna for the primary go to to the Austrian capital by an Indian chief since Indira Gandhi in 1983.