As Prime Minister Modi and President Putin promise to enhance the mutual friendship and increase the bilateral trade to $ 100 billion, the US government seems worried – and alarmed – about the developments in Moscow
Our Bureau
Moscow/New Delhi/Washington, DC
Hailing strong ties between India and Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the time-tested friendship between the two countries has been marked with warmth and the word that comes to mind on hearing the word Russia is “Bharat ke sukh-dukh ka saathi” (India’s partner in happiness and sorrow).
PM Modi, who interacted with the Indian community in Russia at an event held in Moscow, also recalled the ‘sar pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani’ line of a famous Bollywood number from the movie Shree 420, which was released in mid-fifties. “The song was once sung in every household here…this song may have become old, but the sentiments are evergreen,” he said.
In his address to the community, the Prime Minister thanked the Indian diaspora for the warm welcome and lauded its contribution in enhancing the India-Russia relationship. While greeting them on behalf of 140 crore Indians, he noted that his interaction with the community was special, as it was his first address to the Indian diaspora in his third term.
Prime Minister spoke about the transformation that has happened in India in the last ten years.
He said it is the objective of the government to become the third-largest economy in the world. The Prime Minister further noted that India’s call for peace, dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global issues had high resonance. The Prime Minister encouraged the Indian community to continue playing a proactive role in forging a stronger and deeper partnership with Russia.
He mentioned that a decision has been taken to open two new Indian Consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg and this would give further boost to people-to-people ties.
The Prime Minister said that the India-Russia relationship is built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and respect.
“On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to every Indian’s mind is ‘Bharat ka such dukh ka saathi’ (India’s partner in happiness and sorrow), India’s trusted friend. Our Russian friends call it ‘druzba’ and we call it ‘dosti’,” he said.
“‘Russia me sardi ke mausam me temperature kitna hi minus me chala jaye, Bharat-Russia ki dosti hamesha plus me rahi hai, garmjoshi bhari rahi hai.’ (No matter how much the temperature goes down to minus during the winter season in Russia, India-Russia friendship has always been in plus, it has always been warm.) This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect,” he added.
PM Modi praised hard work and honesty of the Indian community, emphasising how their contributions have enriched Russian society.
“I am happy that India and Russia are working shoulder-to-shoulder to give new energy to global prosperity. All of you present here are giving new heights to the relations between India and Russia. You have contributed to Russian society with your hard work and honesty. I have admired the unique relationship between India and Russia for decades,” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on Tuesday and outlined their goals to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers and achieve a mutual trade volume of over USD 100 billion by 2030. The two leaders also decided to continue dialogue on the liberalization of bilateral trade, including the possibility of establishing the EAEU-India Free Trade Area, according to the Leaders’ Joint Statement released following the meeting.
“Aspiration for elimination of non-tariff trade barriers related to bilateral trade between India and Russia. Continuation of dialogue in the field of liberalization of bilateral trade, including the possibility of the establishment of the EAEU-India Free Trade Area. Achievement of a mutual trade volume more than 100 bln USD by 2030 (as mutually agreed), including increased supplies of goods from India to achieve balanced bilateral trade. Reinvigoration of investment activities of the Parties, i.e. within the framework of the special investment regimes,” the statement read.
They also decided to work on developing a bilateral settlement system using national currencies and the consistent introduction of digital financial instruments for mutual settlements.
The two countries will focus on increasing cargo turnover with India through the launch of new routes for the North-South International Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route, and the Chennai-Vladivostok Sea Line. They will also optimize customs procedures through the application of intelligent digital systems for barrier-free movement of goods.
Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, took a strong stance on the issue of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian army and the Russian government has assured an “early discharge” of these Indians from the army service, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Tuesday.
Addressing a special briefing on Tuesday, Kwatra said, “The Prime Minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian army. This was taken strongly by the Prime Minister, and the Russian side promised early discharge of all Indian nationals from the service of the Russian army.”
Notably, several Indians were allegedly duped into fighting in Russia’s war with Ukraine on the pretext of lucrative jobs. In April, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had busted a major human trafficking network running across the country targeting Indian nationals on the promise of offering lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone.
The CBI stated that these traffickers have been operating as an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube, etc., and also through their local contacts and agents for highly paid jobs in Russia.
PM Modi’s visit has caused some concern in the US.
US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated the US government’s stance on India’s relationship with Russia and said that they have been quite clear about their concerns and have expressed those privately and will continue to do so. “We have been quite clear about our concerns about India’s relationship with Russia. We have expressed those privately, directly to the Indian Government, and continue to do so, and that hasn’t changed,” Matthew Miller said in a daily media briefing on Wednesday.
In response to a question regarding PM Modi’s visit to Moscow and some announcements related to energy and oil, Miller replied that US has conveyed its concerns to the Indian government, and revealed that diplomatic conversations on this issue have taken place as recently as the past 24 hours.
“We have had conversations with them in the past 24 hours,” said Miller while addressing the media. Further, in the media briefing, on being asked about PM Modi’s recent Russia visit and the US stance on this, Miller replied that they continue to urge India to support efforts for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
“We urge India, we continue to urge India to support efforts to realize the importance of peace. and enduring and just peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter, based on upholding Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its sovereignty, and that will continue to be what we will engage with,” said Miller in a daily media briefing.
After Modi met Putin, the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged New Delhi to support international efforts for a peaceful resolution in the war-torn country, leveraging its longstanding relationship with Moscow to encourage President Putin to end the war. Further speaking about the war, she emphasized that it is crucial for all allies, including India, to support efforts towards a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
Further, the White House Secretary also reiterated that India is a strategic partner with whom the US engages in frank dialogue, including their relationship with Russia. “India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in full and frank dialogue, including their relationship with Russia and we’ve talked about this before. So, we think it’s critical that all countries, including India, support efforts to realize an enduring and just peace when it comes to Ukraine. It is important for all our allies to realise this.”
Jean-Pierre stressed that President Putin alone can end the war, which he started. “The US believes India’s relationship with Russia positions it to encourage President Putin to take this step,” she added.
“We also believe India’s long-standing relationship with Russia gives it the ability to urge President Putin, to end his brutal war, an unprovoked war in Ukraine. It is for President Putin to end. President Putin started the war, and he can end the war” Jean-Pierre added
The White House remarks came after PM Modi met Putin at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence in an informal meeting on Monday where the two leaders covered prospects for further development of relations between Moscow and New Delhi.
As PM Modi and President Putin commit to enhancing India-Russia relations, the US seems seriously worried and concern.
