Modi's balancing act as he meets Putin in Moscow

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a significant visit to Russia, where he is meeting President Vladimir Putin. This is Mr. Modi's first foreign trip since he began his third term in office in June. His visit comes shortly after a Russian bombing in Ukraine that resulted in the deaths of at least 41 people, including children at a hospital in Kyiv. Images from Moscow show Mr. Modi warmly embracing Mr. Putin, and a video of Mr. Putin calling Mr. Modi 'my dearest friend' has gone viral in India.

Mr. Modi's two-day visit to the Kremlin coincides with a NATO summit in Washington, where the 2022 invasion of Ukraine is a major topic. India, a significant global economy, maintains close ties with both Russia and the United States. Indian officials are downplaying the timing of Mr. Modi's trip, stating that it is part of a long-standing strategic partnership and unrelated to the NATO summit. However, the US has expressed concerns. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller urged Mr. Modi to emphasize Ukraine's territorial integrity during his discussions in Moscow.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his disappointment, calling Mr. Modi's meeting with Mr. Putin a devastating blow to peace efforts. Mr. Modi assured President Putin that India is ready to assist in establishing peace in Ukraine, stating that war is not a solution. He also expressed his sorrow over the death of children, calling it painful and terrifying. The NATO summit in Washington marks the 75th anniversary of the Western defense alliance, which was originally formed to counter the Soviet Union after World War Two. NATO countries have strongly opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while India has refrained from explicitly criticizing President Putin, instead calling for dialogue and diplomacy.

India and Russia share a long history of defense and strategic relations dating back to the Cold War. Russia remains a key supplier of weapons to India, which has one of the largest militaries in the world. India has also been purchasing discounted oil from Russia, leading to a significant increase in bilateral trade. Mr. Modi aims to address the trade imbalance and encourage Russian investment in India.

The US has been strengthening its ties with India to counter the growing influence of China. India is a member of the Quad, a strategic forum with the US, Australia, and Japan, aimed at countering Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific region. However, Russia has been developing closer ties with China, raising concerns in India.

India has diversified its weapons inventory by purchasing arms from the US, France, and Israel, but it still relies heavily on Russia. The war in Ukraine has caused delays in the supply of some weapons, which Mr. Modi is expected to discuss during his visit.

There have been reports of Indian nationals being lured with false promises of lucrative job offers and ending up fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. Four Indians have died in the conflict so far. Indian officials insist that Mr. Modi will press for the early discharge of Indians still fighting in the war.

India's foreign policy aims to maintain strategic autonomy and multi-alignments, balancing its relationships with both the US and Russia. This approach allows India to counter its rival China without offending either of the two major powers.