Modi and Putin Meet in New Delhi to Discuss India-Russia Ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are currently meeting in New Delhi for the first time in years, hoping to strengthen ties.

Modi's primary goal is to re-establish strong ties with Russia, which they have hesitated to do since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War in 2022. United States President Donald Trump has consistently asserted that India must sever ties with Russia, one of its longtime allies, but India has refused to move away from Russian oil– drawing ire from Trump.

India attempted to ramp up their purchases of Russian oil, but those efforts were hindered by Trump's staggering 50% tariffs on the South Asian country. Putin has also promised an "uninterrupted" supply of fuel shipments for India, encouraging them to continue investing in Russian oil. Nevertheless, India has also been increasing their purchases of US-produced natural gas and oil, showing a commitment to neutrality.

However, experts and politicians have warned that India faces a highly unpredictable future ahead if they continue to remain in the middle, avoiding making any solid allies. Indian officials have confirmed that their relationship with the US is highly unpredictable but carries more upside, and India conducts more joint exercises with the US than any other country.

Meanwhile, Russia is a more stable ally that they have maintained for decades, but bolstering their ties with Russia could negatively impact their relationship with the western world. If they are able to maintain a stable allyship with both countries, though, it could be a major win for their economic and political situation.

For now, India is focusing on strengthening ties with Putin and Russia, which is the purpose of Modi's invitation to Delhi. So far, both countries have already pledged to bring their total trade to at least $100 billion by 2030, and India plans to send more of their citizens to work in Russia in the coming years. Additionally, India has backed the idea of peace between Ukraine and Russia, but they have not specified exactly whose plans they plan to support.

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(Doris M. Smith)

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In a Sentence: In 1796, the English physician Edward Jenner discovered that inoculating people with cowpox could provide immunity against smallpox.

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