Credits:CNN,Reuters
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Russia on Monday for his first visit since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, underscoring the continued close ties between the two nations despite Russia’s increasing reliance on China.
During his two-day visit, Modi is expected to attend a private dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin and hold talks with him, according to India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. The summit will “provide an opportunity to the two leaders to review the whole range of bilateral issues,” Jaiswal said last week, adding that Modi and Putin will “also share perspectives on regional and global developments of mutual interest.”
India remains heavily dependent on Russia for its military equipment and has increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude oil, providing a crucial financial lifeline for Russia as it faces isolation from the West. Trade between the two countries was worth nearly $65 billion in 2023-24, primarily driven by strong energy cooperation, but most of that total flowed toward Russia, Jaiswal noted. Reducing the trade imbalance is a “matter of priority” in Modi’s discussions with Putin, he added.
Modi last met with Putin on the sidelines of the 2022 SCO meeting in Uzbekistan, where he told the Russian leader: “Now is not the time for war.” While India has called for an end to hostilities in Ukraine and the restoration of peace, it has abstained from all United Nations resolutions on Ukraine and has not condemned Russia’s invasion.
“I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues,” Modi said in a statement before departing for Russia. “We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region.”
This trip marks Modi’s first bilateral visit since winning a third consecutive term in last month’s general election. The visit is seen as a departure from the norm for an Indian leader, who typically visits neighboring countries such as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives first.
The visit comes as Russia’s relationship with China grows stronger, a development that may be uncomfortable for New Delhi due to its longstanding Himalayan border dispute with Beijing. Modi’s trip follows Putin’s return from Kazakhstan, where he attended the annual leaders’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a bloc led by China and Russia. During the meeting, Putin claimed Moscow-Beijing relations were experiencing “the best period in their history.”
For India, the deepening Russia-China relationship is “a matter of deep concern,” said Nandan Unnikrishnan, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. “That is one of the reasons that Mr. Modi is undertaking this trip because traditionally, the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia, has been a balancer in our relationship with China,” he said. Despite being an SCO member, Modi was notably absent from the meeting in Kazakhstan, indicating that he does not view the bloc as an effective channel for pursuing India’s interests.
Modi’s visit to Russia is also seen as a setback for Western efforts to isolate Putin. Despite undermining Western sanctions by purchasing large quantities of Russian oil, New Delhi remains close with the United States, a key partner as both countries share concerns over China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi met with US President Joe Biden during a state visit to Washington in June last year, further cementing their defense, trade, and technology partnership. The Indian leader also addressed Congress during that trip, an honor typically reserved for close US allies and partners, and attended a state dinner. India is a member of the Quad security grouping with the US, Japan, and Australia.
