Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia aims to address concerns about Russia’s growing closeness to China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia aims to address concerns about Russia’s growing closeness to China and to reinforce India’s ties with Moscow amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics

President Vladimir Putin has been increasingly aligning with Chinese President Xi Jinping since Russia invaded Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions. This rapprochement has raised concerns in India, which is positioning itself as a counterforce to an expansionist Beijing. Putin warmly welcomed Modi at his official residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow. During his visit, Modi ensured Russia was independent of China. Aleksei Zakharov, an expert on Russia-India relations, noted that India wants to provide Russia with alternatives to prevent it from putting all its strategic reliance on China. Modi’s visit also sought to balance India’s relations with the US, which led to sanctions against Russia. Former foreign secretary and ambassador to Russia, Kanwal Sibal, emphasized that Modi’s visit aims to dispel any notions that India’s ties with Russia are weakening due to Western pressure. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra highlighted that the summit between Modi and Putin is crucial for steering the cooperation between the two countries. India and Russia have been close allies since the Cold War, with Russia being a major arms supplier to India. From 2017 to 2022, Russia accounted for nearly half of India’s arms imports.

India also increased its purchase of discounted Russian oil following Western sanctions, despite initial objections from the US and European countries. Strengthening ties with Russia is vital for India, mainly due to its strained relations with China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Nandan Unnikrishnan of the Observer Research Foundation pointed out that if Russia becomes a “junior ally of China,” it would be challenging to contain Beijing’s influence in the region. The initial hours of Modi’s visit showcased the strong rapport between Modi and Putin. They had an informal meeting, drank tea, rode in a golf cart, and visited a stable together. Sources revealed that Russia agreed to discharge all Indians working in the Russian army after Modi raised the issue with Putin. Ajay Bisaria, India’s former high commissioner to Pakistan, wrote that India and Russia recognize each other’s interests in engaging with geopolitical adversaries. He noted that while Russia acknowledges India’s closer partnership with the US, India understands Russia’s need to maintain ties with China. Strategic expert Brahma Chellaney suggested that India could play a role in “driving a wedge” between Russia and China, convincing Russia not to align too closely with China.