India's deft diplomacy on show during Putin's visit

President Vladimir Putin's recently concluded visit was high on optics while deliverables were intentionally kept low key.

- HARSHA KAKAR

This was Putin's first visit to India since the commencement of the Ukraine war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he had last met just about three months ago on the sidelines of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit in China. The photograph of them travelling together for their bilateral in Tianjin displayed the depth of Indo-Russia ties. This visit also followed Russia's partial rejection of the US peace proposal on the Ukraine conflict; Moscow is aware that it holds the cards.Interestingly, India-Russia relations, especially since the Ukraine conflict, have been facing US scrutiny on one pretext or the other. In 2022, soon after the Ukraine war commenced, the Biden administration contemplated imposing sanctions on India for procuring Russia's S400 missile systems under the Countering American Adversaries through Sanctions Act. They never questioned India's oil procurements. The Trump administration questions oil procurements without commenting on Indo-Russian defence deals.

Both the Biden and Trump governments assume Indian procurements have helped fuel Russia's war machinery. This is despite the US too procuring raw materials from Russia. These threats compelled India to reconsider its procurements. India diversified its defence purchases and enhanced its Aatmanirbhar Bharat policies.

It is doing the same with its oil procurements. Indo-Russia ties have also been criticized by Europe. An article written jointly by diplomats of three European nations in a major national daily just prior to the visit, accused Russia for the 'war in Ukraine and disregard for human life.' This displayed Europe's mindset. The Indian MEA rightly criticized the article.