~6 0~p>For more than half a century, India has managed to maintain friendly relations with both Moscow and Washington, and at the same time pursue its own interests.
After the world split into two camps during the Cold War in the second half of the 20th century, India became one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of countries that declared that they would not side with any of the superpowers. For more than half a century, India has managed to maintain friendly relations with both Moscow and Washington, and at the same time pursue its own interests.
Bloomberg writes about this.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking deeper ties with the United States, whose support he relies on in the standoff with China. At the same time, Modi is developing lucrative ties with Russia, highlighted by his announced visit to Moscow next week, his first foreign trip since his re-election to a third term as prime minister.
Recently, New Delhi's relations with Moscow have become more difficult against the backdrop of Xi Jinping's deepening friendship with Putin, who is seeking support in a war of attrition with Ukraine.
Is India an ally of the USA
The India-US strategic partnership has lasted for over 20 years. This means the possibility of cooperation in the military sphere and at the same time the absence of allied obligations between partners. Although both countries have much in common, their interests sometimes diverge. For example, India refused to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine and abstained during the UN vote.
But the foundation of the India-US relationship remains unshakable: the risk of China emerging as a powerful regional state. And in such a situation, long-standing disagreements between New Delhi and Beijing over disputed border territories allow the United States to attract India as a counterbalance to the strengthening of Chinese influence in the region.
Recently, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that the American side has raised the issue of India's ties with Russia. He also said that the US is confident in its relationship with India and wants to expand cooperation between the two countries.
India's friendship with Russia
Despite its declared position of non-alignment during the Cold War, India always maintained warm relations with Russia and was wary of the United States because of its support for Pakistan, its main “sworn” neighbor.
For many years, India was one of the largest buyers of Russian weapons and crude oil. And although New Delhi is now trying to expand the circle of its suppliers and is reducing the volume of purchases of Russian weapons, the Russian Federation’s share in India’s total defense imports still accounts for more than a third.
India's relations with China
Relations between New Delhi and Beijing have been tense for many years due to a territorial dispute along their shared border, which even caused the 1962 war. The dispute reached a boiling point again in 2020, when a series of deadly border skirmishes prompted New Delhi to ban Chinese smartphone software and limit Chinese investment in the Indian economy.
However, signs of detente have recently appeared. In May, for the first time in a year and a half, Beijing appointed an ambassador to India, who upon his arrival expressed a desire to improve relations between the two countries. China also welcomed Modi after his election victory in June. It subsequently became known that the countries agreed on further negotiations to resolve the border dispute.
Recall that next week Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. During this visit, India will try to offer the Kremlin an alternative to circumventing Western sanctions that have brought Moscow closer to Beijing.
Related topics:
More news
