PM Modi's visit to Russia… News for China-US, this is what it means for India

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special flight lands in Moscow, there will be a distinct heat wave in the chilly air. Relations between Russia and India are not new, they have been going on since the Cold War era, but after the conflict in Ukraine that started in February 2022, the importance of these relations has increased. The friendly relationship between Russia and India dates back to when the two countries were struggling over their respective political and economic issues. During the Cold War, when the world was divided into two factions, India and Russia supported each other. Currently, while the Western countries have imposed economic sanctions on Russia, countries like India and China have emerged as major buyers of Russian oil. This position shows India's strategic importance to Russia. Ukraine conflict and India's policy of balance Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is following a policy of balance on the Ukraine issue. India has advocated a peaceful solution to the conflict and refrained from criticizing Russia. This policy helps India balance its foreign policy interests without antagonizing either side. Triangular Challenges of Russia-China-India Relations between Russia and India are facing new challenges due to the growing friendship between India's main adversary Russia and China. The complexity of this triangular relationship became evident when Prime Minister Modi sent his foreign minister to a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, instead of attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping also attended the meeting. PM Modi returns to Moscow Talking about PM Modi's visit to Russia, his last visit was in Vladivostok in 2019 for the Economic Forum, while his previous visit was in 2015. The last meeting between Putin and PM Modi was during the SCO summit in Uzbekistan in September 2022, after which Putin visited Delhi in 2021. The two leaders have met each other sixteen times in the last ten years. Historical Perspective of Security Relations: The security relations between India and Russia are also very old. In the early 1990s, the Soviet Union supplied a large portion of the weapons to the Indian Army. 70 percent of the Indian Army's weapons, 80 percent of its air force systems, and 85 percent of its naval bases were supplied by the Soviet Union. India's first aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, purchased from Russia in 2004 is testament to the strength of these ties. Impact of Ukraine Conflict and India's New Strategy Although the Ukraine conflict has disrupted Russia's defense supply chain, India needs to diversify its military procurement. New defense partnerships with the US, Israel, France and Italy reflect India's strategic shift to reduce its dependence on Russia. Visit and message to the world: Modi's visit has many meanings. First, the visit points to the fact that despite the ups and downs in the world, relations between India and Russia remain warm. Second, the visit reflects India's efforts to maintain balance in its foreign policy, especially with major powers like China and the US. For Russia, the visit is an opportunity to strengthen its strategic and economic ties with India, especially at a time when Western sanctions are forcing Russia to face several challenges. For India, the visit is an important step to strengthen its position on the world stage and further strengthen its ties with Russia. Modi's visit sends a message to the entire world that India is an important global player capable of balancing its relations while protecting its national interests. The visit is also a sign that the friendship between India and Russia is going to stand the test of time, no matter the circumstances.