Der indische Premierminister Narendra Modi ist diese Woche in Russland, um über Handels- und Verteidigungsabkommen zu verhandeln. Putin lud Modi gestern Abend zu einem privaten Abendessen ein. Dies ist Modis erster Besuch in Russland seit der russischen Invasion in der Ukraine.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-russia-visit-live-updates-moscow-22nd-india-russia-annual-summit-vladimir-putin-news-today-july-8-101720440516424.html
https://old.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/1dyy1me/indian_pm_modis_visit_to_russia/
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SS: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Russia this week, to negotiate trade and defence deals. Putin hosted Modi to a private dinner last night. This is Modi’s first visit to Russia since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s President has described this visit by Indian Prime Minister as “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.”
While India has benefited from its continued trade with Russia despite the war – cheap oil and gas imports being the primary ones – this visit is strange in some ways, given Russia-China alliance and India’s ongoing border standoff with China. This visit has likely angered a number of leaders in Western capitals, with no significant geopolitical benefits to India – Russia is unlikely to back India if the India-China border standoff turns into a conflict.
The purpose of the visit isn’t to win Russian guarantees against a possible Chinese attack on India. Quite the opposite, it is to ensure Russia does not feel compelled to draw itself even closer to China. Ever since the Ukrainian war began, the Russians have drawn closer to the Chinese as they are their most important relationship on the international stage.
However, this relationship is not one of equals – the Chinese are dictating to the Russians and India does not want Russia to fall into the Chinese camp unreservedly. Our equipment, spares etc. are of Russian origin and if Russia goes full China, it means the Russians will likely yank away these spares when we need them the most.
This trip is to offer Russia some diplomatic breathing room, let them know that they don’t need to serve Chinese policy and have some independence. This is something Russia wants as well, thus the meetings in Vietnam – to showcase that it isn’t completely isolated.
Also – let’s lay this to bed once and for all – India does not expect anyone to come to its defence if war breaks out with China. So claiming that actions like this alienate the west and make them less inclined to support India in case of a conflict with China are unnecessary. That is not a factor and India as a policy will not be looking to third party actors to help it. India’s relationship with Russia isn’t a giant F U to the west, its something it needs geopolitically, Russia becoming a vassal of the Chinese will be disastrous for us geopolitically.