Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated plans to discuss various economic issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit tot India. He also insisted that it was a “goal” for Moscow to greatly elevate ties with China and India. The remarks came even as Putin lashed out at European powers for ‘derailing’ the Ukraine peace deal and prepared for a meeting with top US officials. India has found itself walking a diplomatic tightrope in recent months — facing vehement criticism from the US over continued purchase of oil from Moscow amidst the war.
Putin is slated to attend the India-Russia Annual Summit and hold talks with PM Modi during a two-day visit to New Delhi later this week. Official statements have positioned the trip as an opportunity for the two countries to review progress in bilateral relations, outline the vision for strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
‘During my visit with PM Modi…’
” I want to emphasize our goal to take our cooperation with the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India to a qualitatively new level by strengthening its technological component…We have established a substantive dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping on economic issues, and we will also discuss these topics in detail during my upcoming visit to India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying on Tuesday evening.
He also noted that there were multiple joint projects in the works — spanning energy, industry, space, agriculture, and many other sectors.
What’s on the agenda?
Russian President Vladimir Putin starts a two-day visit to India from Thursday — pitching for more sales of Russian oil, missile systems and fighter jets in a bid to restore energy and defence ties hit by US pressure on the South Asian nation.
Russia has supplied arms to India for decades, with New Delhi emerging as its top buyer of seaborne oil despite Western sanctions after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
But India’s crude imports are set to hit a three-year low this month, after the tightening of sanctions on Russia that coincide with its growing purchases of U.S. oil and gas.
On his first visit in four years to the Indian capital for a summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin will be accompanied by his defence minister, Andrei Belousov, and a wide-ranging delegation from business and industry.
“Putin’s visit offers an opportunity for Delhi to reassert the strength of its special relationship with Moscow, despite recent developments, and make headway in new arms deals,” said Michael Kugelman of the Atlantic Council think tank told Reuters.
New initiatives were likely to be announced, he added, even if they mostly related to low-hanging fruit in ties.