Narendra Modi, recipient of the Order of Saint Andrew, the highest civilian honour in the Russian Federation, recently visited Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The visit, Modi’s first to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, underscores the complex dynamics of India-Russia relations in the current polarised geopolitical landscape.
The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions covering a wide range of topics, including trade, energy, defence, and the Ukraine conflict. Modi emphasised the importance of peace and dialogue, reiterating that solutions cannot be found on the battlefield. The visit also highlighted India’s strategic balancing act, maintaining its longstanding ties with Russia while navigating its growing relationships with Western nations.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of heightened global tensions, with the United States and its allies closely monitoring the developments. Western leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even criticised Modi’s visit which concurred with Russia’s attacks on sites including a children’s hospital in Ukraine. Modi’s visit is seen as a reaffirmation of the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between India and Russia, despite the ongoing conflict and international pressures.
Jargon
- Trade Imbalance: Occurs when the value of a country’s imports significantly exceeds the value of its exports, leading to a deficit in trade. This is a key issue in India-Russia trade relations.
- BRICS: An acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It focuses on economic cooperation and development.
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance that includes China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It aims to promote regional cooperation and stability.
- International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): A multi-modal transportation route linking India, Iran, and Russia, aimed at reducing the time and cost of transporting goods between these countries.
- Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Route: A proposed sea route intended to enhance trade connectivity between the Indian port city of Chennai and the Russian port city of Vladivostok.
Viewpoints 💭
- Criticises of Modi’s embrace of Putin, highlighting it as undermining global peace efforts.
- Expresses concerns over India’s neutral stance on Ukraine, advocating for a stronger condemnation of Russia’s actions.
- Emphasises the human cost of the war, particularly the impact on innocent civilians and children.
- Worries about the growing trade imbalance favouring Russia, due to increased imports of Russian oil.
- Calls for Modi to address the issue of Indian nationals fighting for the Russian Army and to ensure their safety and return.
- The left criticises the optics and timing of Modi’s visit, viewing it as a tacit endorsement of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, while the right sees the visit as a nuanced diplomatic effort to balance India’s strategic interests.
- Left-leaning voices express dissatisfaction with India’s neutral stance, urging a more vocal criticism of Russia, whereas the right defends India’s balanced approach, prioritising dialogue and diplomacy.
- The left raises humanitarian concerns, focusing on the war’s impact on civilians, whereas the right emphasises the significance of maintaining and strengthening historical and strategic ties with Russia.
- Critics from the left highlight the trade imbalance and India’s growing dependence on Russian oil, viewing it as problematic. In contrast, the right views the increased trade, especially in energy, as a strategic move beneficial to India’s economic interests.
- The safety and return of Indian nationals fighting for the Russian Army are stressed by the left as a primary concern, needing immediate action from Modi. The right, however, largely focuses on the broader strategic and economic discussions of the visit, often sidelining individual cases of Indians in the Russian military.
- Praises Modi’s diplomatic efforts, viewing the visit as a strategic balance between maintaining ties with Russia and engaging with the West.
- Supports India’s stance of dialogue and diplomacy as the solution to the Ukraine conflict.
- Emphasises on the importance of India-Russia bilateral relations, particularly in defence and energy sectors.
- Approves of India’s neutral position on Ukraine, respecting the country’s strategic autonomy.
- Recognises Modi’s efforts to secure economic benefits for India, including accessing discounted Russian oil.
Prominent Voices 📣
- Jairam Ramesh (Congress leader): Condemned Modi’s visit to Russia, questioning its timing and Modi’s claims about influencing peace in Ukraine. [1] [2]
- Ghanshyam Tiwari (National Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party): Stressed the importance of India playing a constructive role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. [3]
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy (President of Ukraine): Expressed disappointment over Modi’s visit and embrace of Putin, highlighting the negative impact on peace efforts. [4] [1]
- Mathew Miller (US State Department Spokesperson): Urged India to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and expressed concerns about India’s relationship with Russia. [4] [5]
- Eric Garcetti (US Ambassador to India): Warned Indian companies against violating Western sanctions and stressed the importance of holding Russia accountable. [4]
- Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India): Emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the Ukraine conflict and highlighted the strong India-Russia strategic partnership. [6] [7]
- Vladimir Putin (President of Russia): Praised Modi’s leadership and efforts to find peaceful solutions to the Ukraine crisis, highlighting the progress under Modi’s governance. [4] [8]
- S. Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister): Asserted the stability of the India-Russia relationship, emphasizing its resilience against external pressures. [9]
- Vinay Mohan Kwatra (Foreign Secretary of India): Highlighted the economic focus of Modi’s discussions with Putin and the increase in India-Russia trade. [9] [10]
- Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin Spokesman): Highlighted the strategic partnership level of Russia-India relations and dismissed Western concerns as jealousy. [11] [12]
Sources 📚
