Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on his first visit to Russia since the onset of the Ukraine conflict on July 8. This visit underscores India's delicate diplomatic balancing act, navigating its longstanding alliance with Moscow while seeking closer security ties with Western nations.
According to an official release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, after concluding his trip to Russia, Modi will make a historic visit to Austria, marking the first by an Indian prime minister in 41 years.
Modi's last visit to Russia was in 2019, where he participated in an economic conclave in Vladivostok, a city in the Far East.
Russia remains a critical supplier of affordable oil and weaponry to India. However, Russia's strained relations with the West and its growing alignment with China have reshaped its traditional partnership with New Delhi over time.
In recent years, the United States and its Western allies have strengthened relations with India as a counterbalance to China's expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region. They have also urged India to reduce its dependence on Russian ties.
As reported by the French international news agency Agence France-Presse, Swasti Rao from the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a think tank funded by India's defence ministry, noted that Russia's conflict in Ukraine has "transformed" its relationship with India.
However, Russia's military actions in Ukraine have also had a significant humanitarian impact on India. In February, India announced active negotiations with Russia for the release of its citizens recruited for "support roles" with the Russian military. Reports indicated that some of these individuals were coerced into combat and lost their lives in Ukraine.
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