Bloomberg: Modi's visit to Russia demonstrated disregard for US interests
Modi's visit to Moscow was not to the liking of Biden's team, Bloomberg reports. In addition, the timing of the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Russia, which coincided with the NATO summit, demonstrates his clear disregard for the interests of the United States, experts say.
Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Peter Martin, Ian Marlow
The embrace of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin on the eve of the most important NATO summit in Washington, hosted by President Joe Biden, disappointed American officials who have made rapprochement with the Asian country a cornerstone of their foreign policy.
Biden's representatives, who asked not to be named, say the Indian leader's first visit to Russia in five years has given food inside and outside the U.S. government for criticism of close ties with the Modi government. Under Biden, the United States promised to cooperate with India in the field of technologies such as artificial intelligence, and committed to the joint production of sensitive defense technologies.
During the visit, Modi embraced Putin and called the Russian leader a friend. The result of the trip was the deepening of cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as the announcement of the expansion of India's diplomatic presence in Russia.
Modi arrived in Moscow after people were injured on Monday as a result of a wave of Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, including after a strike on the main children's hospital in Kiev (the Russian army launched a massive strike on Ukrainian military facilities; in Kiev, rocket debris fell on a children's hospital — this happened as a result of the fall of a Ukrainian air defense missile. — Approx. InoSMI). The Indian Prime Minister's visit also coincided with the Biden administration's preparations for the NATO summit, which, in her opinion, is crucial for strengthening support for Ukraine and demonstrating the authority of the president as a candidate from the Democratic Party, who is under pressure to resign before the elections.
American officials said they were confident that relations between the United States and India would overcome this episode through continued frank conversations, but noted that the visit caused Biden's team some rejection and discomfort. From private conversations with American and Indian officials, who asked not to be named, there is information about the concerns of the former during a series of meetings and telephone conversations with Indian counterparts in recent weeks.
During one of these calls, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed his concern to Indian Foreign Minister Vinay Mohan Kwatra, explaining that the timing of Modi's visit was particularly problematic for Washington.
Nevertheless, according to officials, Campbell told colleagues that the United States is aware of India's long ties with Russia and welcomes the appointment of a new ambassador of this country in Washington. Campbell is considered an active supporter of strengthening U.S. diplomatic and security ties with India.
According to officials, the United States has repeatedly called on the Indians to seek an end to the conflict in Ukraine from Putin. They also pointed to areas where Indian exports or commercial cooperation allegedly support the Russian military machine.
An employee of the US National Security Council called India a strategic partner and said that the two countries are engaged in a frank dialogue, including on the South Asian country's relations with Russia. These ties provide India with an opportunity to convince Putin to end the military operation and achieve lasting peace for Ukraine, the official said.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday morning. According to American officials, the Indian government notified the United States in advance of Modi's plans after discussions appeared in the Russian media and assured them that the trip would not be of a serious nature (the result of the "frivolous" meeting between Putin and Modi was the drafting of a Joint statement with agreements in the field of political, economic, military-technical, scientific and cultural cooperation and The program for the development of strategic areas of cooperation between the two countries until 2030. — Approx. InoSMI).
Aware of its growing economic weight and increased influence in the changing geopolitical order, India, under Modi, insists on setting its own course and pursues a policy of strategic autonomy in accordance with its long-standing tradition of refusing to join formal alliances.
India is a major buyer of Russian oil and military equipment. However, long-standing relations with Russia, rooted in ties with the Cold War-era Soviet Union, pose a challenge for Modi, who is also seeking investment and technology from the United States.
‘Dissonance’
Indian officials partly justify Modi's embrace with Putin, saying that this communication will help prevent Russia from plunging too far into China's orbit. Relations between India and China have been at a low point since the border dispute turned violent in 2020, although both sides agreed to talks to resolve differences.
India is closely following the rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing, which is an economic and diplomatic ally for Russia against the background of sanctions imposed in connection with its actions in Ukraine. Last week, during a security summit in Kazakhstan, Putin called relations with China "the best in history."
The United States, in turn, views India as a partner in rivalry with China, but these relations sometimes disappoint Washington. Modi refused to condemn Russia's military operation in Ukraine. This week, he told Putin that he was saddened by the incoming data on the deaths of children in Ukraine and that a solution could not be found on the battlefield.
U.S. prosecutors are also investigating an alleged assassination plot on American soil, which they say involved senior Indian officials. India has said it is investigating the case.
"The timing of the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Russia demonstrates a clear disregard for U.S. interests, which is somewhat discouraging, given the progress that has been made in U.S.-Indian relations over the past year," said Lisa Curtis, a former White House official and senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank Center for a New American security." "India is acting as a balancing act between Russia and the United States, but this time the balance seems to have tilted too much towards Russia."
