India’s connections to Russia are allegedly a source of concern for the US

A U.S. State Department spokesperson informed reporters on Monday that the country has expressed concerns to India regarding its relationship with Russia in light of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The spokesperson was responding to inquiries regarding a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Reasons for Its Significance

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India has been under pressure from the West to sever ties with Moscow. So far, New Delhi has rejected the pressure, citing its long-standing economic links to Russia and the need to open a new tab.

This was the first visit by the prime minister to Russia since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Modi met Putin there on Monday. The prime minister said on social media site X that his discussions with Putin “will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship” between the two nations.

ESSENTIAL WORD

“We have made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia,” a State Department official said in a news briefing. “I will look to Prime Minister Modi’s public remarks to see what he talked about,” the spokesperson added.

“And so we would hope (that) India and any other country when they engage with Russia would make clear that Russia should respect the U.N. Charter, should respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

SUBTLETY

Since the Soviet Union’s demise, Russia has been India’s main supplier of weaponry. India has been looking for alternatives, though, as Russia’s ability to supply munitions and spares has been hindered by the conflict in Ukraine.

Recent years have seen Washington try to court New Delhi and create new ties; political observers claim that the United States views India as a counterbalance to China in the Asia-Pacific region.

Africa, Latin America, China, and the Middle Eastern states have been establishing connections even as the West has been attempting to isolate Putin.