[email protected] +91 772-2987-077
Old traditions, new ties

Old traditions, new ties: On the importance of the India-Russia partnership

Narendra Modi must try and convince Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow on Monday reaffirms an old tradition of holding annual summits between India and Russia leaders. With Russia his first choice for a bilateral visit in his third tenure, he also breaks a tradition that Indian Prime Ministers travel to neighbouring countries on their first stand-alone visits in a tenure, indicating the importance of the India-Russia partnership. The 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit has another first — the first Modi-Putin meet since the Ukraine war. The 21st summit was in Delhi in December 2021, just before Russian President Vladimir Putin launched “special operations” on Ukraine. Since then, the two leaders have met just once, at the SCO summit in Uzbekistan, where Mr. Modi had stated that this was not the “era of war”. Russia’s growing dependence on China as a result of the war is also a concern for India, given tensions over the LAC. While there will be a scheduled framework of talks on bilateral issues (trade and energy relationships, space cooperation for Gaganyaan, and declining but substantial defence supplies), there will also be an opportunity to take stock of the war in Ukraine. Apart from its impact and western sanctions on global security, and shortages of food, fuel and fertilizers, India has been worried about its fallout on defence deliveries and spares from Russia. While an attempt to “Make in India” has made headway (Russian assault rifles and the India-Russia BrahMos missile), concerns over the reliability of supplies and the payments issue will need discussion. New Delhi’s concern over Indian recruitments by the Russian army is another issue, officials indicate.

Above all, Mr. Modi’s visit sends a geopolitical message given the contrast to another summit in Washington. On Tuesday, U.S. President Joseph Biden will welcome leaders of NATO countries for the transatlantic grouping’s 75th anniversary. With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indo-Pacific leaders who are part of the western sanctions present, it will be a show of strength supposed to demonstrate Russia’s “isolation”. Mr. Modi has attempted a balance with his presence at the G-7 summit outreach in Italy last month and meeting Mr. Zelenskyy, and later sending an official delegation to the Peace Conference in Switzerland. The government has also shown its enduring commitment to traditional ties with Russia that stem from the 1971 Soviet Union Peace and Friendship treaty, by refusing to condemn the war at the UN and other multilateral forums, while continuing to engage with Russia bilaterally and at groupings such as the SCO, BRICS and the G-20. All eyes during Mr. Modi’s visit will then be on how he uses India’s particular multi-polar, unaligned perch to further the cause of “dialogue and diplomacy” and help hasten an end to the conflict that has divided the world.​

-
Ties (noun) – connection, link, liaison, attachment, association संबंध

-

Reaffirm (verb) – reiterate, repeat, renew, confirm, reassert

पुनः पुष्टि करना

-
Bilateral (adjective) – Involving two parties, especially countries. द्विपक्षीय

-
Tenure (noun) – term of office, period

कार्यकाल

-
Neighbouring
(adjective) – adjacent, nearby, bordering

पड़ोसी

-
Stand
-alone (adjective) – Independent, separate, self-contained
स्वतंत्र

-
State
(verb) – express, voice, utter, say, tell, declare कहना

-
Given (preposition) – considering, taking into consideration, taking into account

देखते हुए

-
Scheduled
(adjective) – arranged or planned according to a programme, timetable, etc

निर्धारित

-
Substantial
(adjective) – sizeable, considerable, significant  महत्वपूर्ण

-
Take stock of
(phrase) – assess, evaluate, review, appraise, examine

समीक्षा करना

-
Fallout
(noun) – Consequence, effect, outcome, result, repercussion

परिणाम

-

Spare (noun) – Replacement part, extra part, backup, reserve, auxiliary

अतिरिक्त हिस्सा

 

-

Make headway (phrase) – Progress, advance, proceed, move forward, make progress

प्रगति करना

-
Geopolitical
(adjective) – geostrategic, political-geographical, international relations-related

भू-राजनीतिक

-

Contrast (to) (noun) – Difference, disparity, distinction, dissimilarity

विपरीतता

-

NATO (noun) – North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance of European and North American countries

नाटो

 

-

Transatlantic (adjective) – Crossing or relating to the Atlantic Ocean, especially between Europe and North America.

ट्रान्साटलांटिक

 

-
Sanction
(noun) – Restriction, ban, penalty, punishment, injunction

प्रतिबंध

-
Demonstrate
(verb) – exhibit, display, show, illustrate, दिखाना

-

Isolation (noun) – Separation, detachment, seclusion, solitude, quarantine

अलगाव

 

-
Outreach
(noun) – engagement, communication, interaction, connection, liaison

संपर्क

-
Delegation
(noun) – A group of representatives or delegates

प्रतिनिधि मंडल

-
Enduring
(adjective) – lasting over a period of time; durable.

स्थायी

-
Commitment
(noun) – A pledge or undertaking. प्रतिबद्धता

-
Stem
from (phrasal verb) – originate from, spring from, derive from, come from,

से उत्पन्न होना

-
Treaty
(noun) – agreement, pact, contract, accord, deal

संधि

-
Condemn
(verb) – Denounce, criticize, censure, disapprove, reproach

निंदा करना

-
Multilateral
(adjective) – Agreed upon or participated in by three or more parties, especially the governments of different countries. बहुपक्षीय

-
Bilaterally
(adverb) – involving two groups or countries; mutually

द्विपक्षीय रूप से

-

Multi-polar (adjective) – Having multiple centers of power or influence, diversified, polycentric

बहुध्रुवीय

 

-

Unaligned (adjective) – Not allied with any side, neutral, independent, nonpartisan, nonaligned

गुटनिरपेक्ष

 

-

Perch (noun) – Position, seat, vantage point, place, spot

स्थान

 

-
Further
(verb) – Advance, promote, foster, encourage, develop.

बढ़ाना

-

Cause (noun) – Purpose, reason, motive, basis, rationale

उद्देश्य

-
Diplomacy
(noun) – Negotiation between nations

कूटनीति

-

Hasten (verb) – Speed up, accelerate, expedite

जल्दी करना