By Ahmed Adel
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Moscow has debunked the West’s allegation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is isolated from the rest of the world over the conflict in Ukraine and is another step in the strengthening ties between Russia and India. In fact, the New Delhi-Moscow relationship is so immovable because, as Modi explained, it is founded on “mutual trust and mutual respect.”
Modi, the most popular head of state in the world and recently reelected in India, visited Moscow on July 8-9. The Indian prime minister’s visit follows the recent meetings Putin had with Chinese President Xi Jinping on July 3 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, where he signed strategic cooperation agreements with both of his Asian counterparts. Putin also held a recent meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who often criticises NATO for the multi-billion-dollar military support it provides to Ukraine at the cost of European security.
Evidently, Russia is not isolated as the West has consistently claimed since the special military operation in Ukraine began in February 2022.
Following Putin’s diplomatic moves – which were closely followed by Western leaders – NATO is holding a summit this week in Washington to define a plan for sustained support for Kiev, at a time when Russian forces dominate the battlefield in Ukraine, and to strengthen sanctions against Russia. However, these provocations have only forced Moscow to enhance commercial, political, and military ties with partners, such as India, to render these sanctions practically sterile.
The search for dialogue to end the conflict in Ukraine has constantly been sought in various international forums. In this regard, New Delhi promotes peace but wants to maintain a good relationship with Moscow, a fellow BRICS member.
“We both believe greater efforts are needed to ensure global stability and peace. In the future, we will continue to work together to achieve these goals,” Modi said at a press conference after his meeting with Putin, adding that the meeting was “fruitful” and pushed bilateral progress in many sectors.
Modi also told Putin on July 9,
“As a friend, I have always said that peace is necessary for the prosperity of future generations, but I also know that on the battlefield, solutions aren’t easy to come by between guns, bombs and bullets. We have to adopt a path to peace through dialogue.”
He added:
“India is ready to support you in every possible way to achieve peace. I assure you and the world that we are in favour of peace, and after talking to my friend Putin yesterday, I have hope.”
In response, Putin said,
“I am grateful to you for the attention you are paying to the most pressing problems, including trying to find some ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.”
Of course, the only person outraged by Modi and Putin’s discussion of peace was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described the meeting as a “disappointment.”
“It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” Zelensky said.
Following the talks with Putin, the Indian Prime Minister stressed the willingness to enhance bilateral ties in areas such as trade, security, agriculture, technology, and innovation. They also agreed on July 9 to step up their efforts to create an equitable and indivisible regional security architecture.
In this regard, Putin and Modi confirmed the importance of dialogue on bilateral and regional issues at the level of the secretary of the Russian Security Council and the adviser to the Indian prime minister on national security and the Security Councils. Both countries will engage in research and development and joint production of advanced defence technologies and systems, and they also agreed to intensify Indian production of spare parts, components, units, and other products to maintain Russian-made equipment and weapons. It is recalled that up to 70% of the Indian Army’s weapons are of Russian origin.
As Modi said when addressing the Indian diaspora in Moscow after announcing the opening of two new consulates in Yekaterinburg and Kazan to facilitate travel and business,
“No matter if the temperatures in Russia are in minus, Russia-India friendship has always been in plus. This is a relationship built on a foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect.”
This all-in-all ends the West’s relentless propaganda that Russia has been successfully isolated.
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This article was originally published on InfoBrics.
Ahmed Adel is a Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.
Featured image is from InfoBrics
