PM Modi heads to Russia for the first time since Ukraine war | WATCH
India/Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a crucial two-day visit to Russia on Monday, marking his first trip to the country since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine. This visit comes at a time when the war has strained the long-standing relationship between the two nations and pushed Russia closer to India’s regional rival, China.
During his visit, PM Modi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the far eastern port city of Vladivostok. The leaders last met in person in Uzbekistan in September 2022 at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) bloc. Modi’s last visit to Russia was in 2019.
India and Russia have maintained strong ties since the Cold War, and New Delhi’s significance as a key trading partner for Moscow has grown since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Facing sanctions from the West, Russia has turned to China and India as major buyers of its oil. India, under Modi’s leadership, has notably avoided condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, advocating instead for a peaceful resolution.
However, the burgeoning alliance between Russia and China has created new challenges for India. The June 2020 clash along the disputed China-India border, which resulted in casualties on both sides, has intensified India's concerns over China's regional assertiveness and Moscow's closer ties with Beijing.
Defense cooperation is expected to be a key focus during Modi’s visit. Despite supply chain disruptions caused by the Ukraine conflict, which have delayed deliveries of Russian military equipment, India continues to rely heavily on Russian defense supplies. Approximately 60% of India’s military equipment is of Russian origin. Both nations are anticipated to finalize a military logistics agreement to facilitate greater defense exchanges.
Chietigj Bajpaee, a senior South Asia research fellow at Chatham House, noted that India is becoming increasingly estranged from forums where Russia and China play dominant roles. Modi’s absence from the latest SCO summit in Kazakhstan highlights this growing distance.
Economic discussions are also set to be prominent during the talks, with a focus on developing a maritime corridor between Chennai and Vladivostok to enhance trade. India-Russia trade has surged, reaching nearly $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, driven largely by energy cooperation. Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra stated that imports from Russia amounted to $60 billion, while exports from India were $4 billion.
India aims to address this trade imbalance by increasing its exports, which currently include pharmaceuticals, telecom instruments, iron and steel, marine products, and machinery. Key imports from Russia are crude oil, coal, precious stones, fertilizers, vegetable oil, and metals.
Modi’s visit could also bolster Putin’s image, demonstrating that Russia is not isolated on the world stage despite Western sanctions and the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin over actions in Ukraine. Analysts suggest that Putin’s recent international engagements, including visits to Vietnam and North Korea, aim to showcase Russia’s enduring global influence. AP