Iran Press/Asia: During his two-day visit, the first since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Modi is set to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ways to continue New Delhi’s close relations with Moscow, an important trading partner and major defense supplier for India.
Modi said, "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. We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region."
Kremlin on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India's highly-anticipated and comprehensive visit to Moscow will be watched by the West with "jealousy".
The two leaders’ last meeting in Russia was in 2019, in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. They also met in person at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in September 2022 in Uzbekistan.
Russia and India have maintained strong ties since the Cold War. New Delhi’s importance as a key trading partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
After the imposition of sanctions by the United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports, China and India have turned into key buyers of Russian oil. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia.
Under Modi’s leadership, India has refrained from making any comment in condemnation of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine while emphasizing the need to settle tensions through peaceful channels and negotiations.
However, the relationship between Russia and India has become fraught after Moscow started developing closer ties with New Delhi’s main rival, China.
The Indian prime minister stayed away last week from the most recent SCO summit in Kazakhstan.
Russia has also been a major military supplier to India but New Delhi diversified its defense procurements after the fighting in Ukraine had an impact on Moscow’s supply line.
203, 204
Read more:
India, Russia Ink $5.4 billion S-400 Air Defense System Deal
Trilateral meeting of Iran, Russia, and India on INSTC
