Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia on July 8-9 to meet with President Vladimir Putin is focused on strengthening bilateral relations and discussing key international and regional issues.
They are expected to explore avenues for enhancing their countries’ ties while addressing broader global concerns, as outlined by the Kremlin’s statement.
The upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin will indeed cover a wide array of topics, including contemporary regional and global issues of mutual concern. This includes a comprehensive review of the multifaceted relationship between India and Russia.
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, recently characterized India as a “longtime friend of Russia,” emphasizing the enduring nature of their bilateral ties.
“We have relations of special privilege, strategic partnership with India. We cooperate in so many areas, and I think that will be a substantive conversation on the whole range of issues that our countries cooperate on,” Nebenzia said.
When asked what he expects will from the visit, Nebenzia said,
“I expect Russian-Indian relations to blossom even better.”
Importance of the Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia holds significant diplomatic importance, especially in light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine since February 2022.
This will mark Modi’s first visit to Russia after those events, highlighting India’s nuanced diplomacy amidst the strained relations between Russia and the West.
Narendra Modi having good ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin
Modi’s last visit to Russia was in 2019 for the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit held in Vladivostok, underscoring the continuity and strategic depth of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Over the past two years, India has detailed a diplomatic stance that balances its relations with both Russia and Ukraine.
While refraining from explicit condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, India has advocated for an international investigation into incidents like the Bucha massacre and has expressed concerns over nuclear threats made by Russian leaders.
At the UN Security Council, India has maintained a nuanced approach, often choosing to abstain from voting on resolutions directly targeting Russia.
This approach reflects India’s strategic diplomacy aimed at preserving relations with both Moscow and the broader international community amidst geopolitical tensions.
India indeed maintains strong strategic ties with Moscow, particularly in defense cooperation, where Russia remains a significant supplier of military equipment and technology.
Additionally, amid global economic pressures, India has taken advantage of discounted Russian oil prices to mitigate the inflationary impact of rising global oil prices.
This dual approach underscores India’s pragmatic economic and strategic considerations in managing its international relations amidst global geopolitical challenges.
The last in-person bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin occurred in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during the SCO Summit in September 2022.
During this meeting, Modi emphasized to Putin that “this is not the era of war.” This statement later resonated in international forums such as the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022, where it was used by other Western leaders and interlocutors to urge Russia to end its conflict.
This highlights Modi’s stance on global peace and the diplomatic echoes it generated in international discourse concerning the ongoing conflict.
