Modi heads to Moscow to checkmate China?

Modi heads to Moscow to checkmate China?

Modi heads to Moscow to checkmate China?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head to Russia on Monday for a two-day visit to shore up relations at a time that Moscow has deepened ties with New Delhi’s archrival, China.

New Delhi analysts say the summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin set for Tuesday will help counter perceptions of a drift in ties with its longtime ally as India builds a closer partnership with the United States.

“India’s goal is to emphasize that India-Russia relations are important and to ensure that Putin’s growing relations with China will not affect ties with New Delhi,” Chintamani Mahapatra, founder of the Kalinga Institute of Indo Pacific Studies told VOA.

“That is why it is extremely important to continue the dialogue with Russia at the highest level,” he added.

The summit will be the first since Russia invaded Ukraine, an issue on which New Delhi has maintained a neutral stance; It has neither condemned the war nor joined Western sanctions imposed on Moscow.

Although Indian and Russian leaders have held annual summits since 2000, none have been held since Putin visited New Delhi in 2021.

Calling the summit “something waiting to happen,” Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed the two countries’ “strong history of working together.”

The focus of Modi’s first visit to Russia in five years will be reinforcing a time-tested relationship, analysts say.

“I don’t think this will set the course for a future-oriented or path breaking partnership with a lot of new initiatives and deliverables,” Sreeram Chaulia, dean at the Jindal School of International Affairs told VOA.

“Rather,” he said, “it is to sustain the relationship, maintain the existing links we have and ensure how to keep our defense and energy cooperation on track.”

Despite diversifying its purchases of military hardware in recent years, India remains reliant on Russian arms – about one-third of India’s defense imports come from Moscow, down from two-thirds five years ago. Concerns have been growing though, since the Ukraine invasion began, about Russia’s ability to supply spare parts and ammunition.

Meanwhile, bilateral energy trade has boomed as India increases purchases of cheap Russian oil in the aftermath of the Ukraine invasion. However, while Moscow’s total exports to India are $65 billion, Indian exports are only about $4 billion, causing concern in New Delhi.

"Trade remains imbalanced, which is a matter of priority in our discussions with the Russian side," Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters while announcing Modi's visit on Friday. He said India wants to promote exports across various sectors, including farm products, technology, pharmaceuticals and services to lower the deficit.