In February 2022, the nation’s were under constraint whether to choose the Western-backed Kyiv or Moscow after the Russian tanks poured into Ukraine creating Europe’s biggest war after World War II. From that point for around 18 months, Delhi was in a difficult position in managing both the sides, cautiously staying away from the face to face criticism of Russia which is an old friend of India.
But this Friday, at the G20 summit different countries visit New Delhi for the yearly gathering and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi can be obligated to have a go at it.
Since the Cold War period, India and Russia have been companions. In the 1965 war of India and Pakistan, Russia had negotiated peace and brought an end to the war. Later, in the midst of 1971 war between the South Asian surroundings, the USA made an intimidating war into the Bay of Bengal and Russia located cruisers and demolishers in Delhi’s Defense in order to support India.
Not only that but India has been dependent on Russia for many of its defence weaponaries and also for the tactful balance at the United Nations Security Council. Apart from this, India was the single nation to go against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and supported Russia.
India being the vital economy for more than four decades, it has not opened up about the war between Russia and Ukraine. When the whole world was against Russia after the war, India after the European Union and China, was the third largest buyer of oil from Russia. The western countries had made efforts to hold back the sales from Russia in order to place a limit on President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.
Amidst the partnership between India and Russia, changes are now turning on. India has initiated to speak about the Ukraine war and also in recent times, India has also stepped back in purchasing arms from Russia for the defence purpose instead it is making sales from the US, France and Israel. Russia has also increased the price of oil turning it less profitable for India. While Russia’s President Putin has not turned up to attend the G20 summit whereas, all the other Western countries including Joe Biden, the president of the US are being a part of it.
Among various reasons, India trying to step back in relationship with Russia is still a question mark, if so what would that be in terms of global order. According to some experts, India trying to drift back with Russia in recent times may not be possible, but they say that it is a warning signal because their companionship has developed into a burden for the geopolitical aims of New Delhi which includes to bring peace in the Ukraine and stop the war. As the Modi government has signed up with the Western countries while showing a downtrend with Russia.
