The increased tension in the global political chessboard due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the resultant crises forced PM Narendra Modi to schedule a crucial foreign visit to Moscow from July 8 to 9. It will be the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, and that will be the first physical interaction between the leaderships of the two countries after the Russian-Ukraine war that started in February 2022.
The invitation offered by Russian President Vladimir Putin must be viewed in light of a strong and long-standing Russian-Chinese camaraderie. The Russian president’s trip to India was also defined as very important and a full-fledged one at the Kremlin officials’ discretion, which points to the importance of Russian-Indian relations in this case.
The high-level meeting is coining as a large international relations shift has taken place globally, and the focal point of conflicts has shifted to the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Next year’s bilateral meeting, likely to be PM Modi’s meeting with President Biden, would open up an avenue for the two leaders to have an extended discussion on most of the burning issues, including the ongoing conflict and its impact on the region and the world.
Experts think that the summit could also discuss the development of economic cooperation, defense, and coordination in international organizations because India and Russia have always supported each other over the years despite the complicated changes in contemporary global politics.
The visit also holds particular relevance as while India has not criticized Russia’s invasion, it has also not endorsed the action while providing humanitarian support to Ukraine. As for Prime Minister Modi, the focus will be made on his personal diplomacy to steer through those geopolitics.
This is why much attention is being paid to the further development of the bilateral relations between India and Russia, especially about future high-level talks, as the upcoming India-Russia summit will likely set the course for the future evolution of this strategic partnership, which has a vast impact on the bilateral relations of the respective South Asian and East European countries as well as on the overall international situation.
