Why did Russian President visit India?

(The untold story)

India has never been as threatened as now by China, which has its eyes on Arunachal and Ladakh. The standoff between India and China has not produced a decisive winner, like in India’s Kargil war with Pakistan. However, China had to do the unthinkable, blink first and retreat in Doklam and retreat from intrusion points at Ladakh. For India, these are tactical wins, but the country cannot be complacent with an expansionist China.

When the Covid ravaged India’s economy, and the nation required the maximum financial assistance to aid the economic recovery, India nevertheless loosened its purse strings for the procurement of the proven S-400 Russian missiles, despite the threat of USCAATSA sanctions. India has started receiving air missile defence systems.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin made a brief visit yesterday to call on our Prime Minister Modi and reiterated the time-tested India-Russia friendship. India, indeed, has come of age as a sovereign nation, and despite the Modi led NDA government’s shift in its external policy, leaning with the U.S. and its allies, it did not deter the continuance of its policy of independence in the matters of defence preparedness. India recently displayed its determination while going ahead with the Rafale jet-fighters procurement from France.

It was unique of the Russian President to visit India for a few hours. He held several meetings, and his ministers signed several MOUs, including a ten-year defence pact between the two countries. 601427 Nos. of advanced AK-203 assault rifles will be procured through an Indo-Russian JV. Putin’s visit outside Russia in 2021 was his second, which is noteworthy.

Be that as it may, I believe that Putin did not arrive to talk about the S400 systems, for which India and Russia had signed the agreement long ago. Neither can it be for selling a few assault rifles. Putin is under pressure defending his friend from Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko. The second and more important factor is the disquiet in its border with Ukraine. Almost a hundred thousand Russian troops are at the Ukrainian border. The west intends to admit Ukraine into NATO, which Putin has drawn a red line. Earlier, the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea, a part of Ukraine, in early 2014, has kept the region boiling. Ukraine is very important with 18 seaports. Sevastopol, earlier in the Crimea region, is under Russian control now.

Russia supplies nearly a quarter of the natural gas through pipes, which run through Ukraine. The bickering disputes have grown into serious transnational political issues, the EU threatening sanctions against Russia if the energy supplies are disturbed.

Putin’s coming to India might be to seek Modi’s understanding and his diplomatic offensive to thwart any untoward in case Putin orders his troops to march into Ukraine, which it seems he is planning soon. It will be interesting to watch India and Modi’s stance in such an eventuality as to what extent India will be supporting Russia. The efforts will also determine India’s ambitions as a global leader.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix