GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th July. The Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to Russia and Austria from July 8 to 10, marking his first visit to the Russian Federation in nearly five years. PM Modi last visited Russia in 2019 for an economic conclave in Vladivostok.
Agenda in Russia
PM Modi will be in Russia on July 8 and 9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. This summit, the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries, will allow the leaders to review the comprehensive relations between India and Russia and discuss contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest. The annual summits have alternated between India and Russia, with 21 such meetings held to date.
Visit to Austria
Following his departure from Moscow, PM Modi will travel to Austria on July 9, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years. During his stay, PM Modi will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The leaders are expected to address business leaders from both nations, as per the MEA.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The Kremlin extended an open invitation to PM Modi in March, with President Putin expressing his eagerness to host the Indian leader. Notably, Putin had extended this invitation during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Moscow last year. “We will be glad to see our friend, Mr. Prime Minister Modi in Russia,” Putin had said.
The visit presents a significant opportunity to bolster bilateral ties, highlighted by the growing economic partnership between India and Russia. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of the annual summit tradition, noting, “We are two countries with a strong history of working together. This summit is a way of taking stock of our relationship.”
India-Russia Relations
India maintains a longstanding strategic relationship with Russia, heavily reliant on Russian defense supplies. Russia has accounted for 65% of India’s weapon purchases over the past two decades. Additionally, India has continued to purchase discounted Russian oil to mitigate the inflationary impact of rising global oil prices.
India’s nuanced diplomatic stance towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict includes condemning civilian casualties and nuclear threats but abstaining from votes against Russia in Western-introduced resolutions. President Putin has praised PM Modi’s firm stance on defending India’s national security interests, expressing admiration for his leadership.
Concerns Over Indian Nationals in Ukraine
However, reports of Indian nationals being recruited by the Russian Army to fight in Ukraine have strained relations. New Delhi has called for the safe return of Indian nationals from conflict zones. Jaishankar raised strong concerns with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, regarding Indian nationals involved in the war zone, emphasizing that it is unacceptable for Indians to find themselves in the army of another country in a warzone.
In April, the MEA confirmed that 10 Indian nationals working as support staff in the Russian Army had returned to India. However, around 20 others were allegedly duped into fighting for the Russian Army under the pretense of lucrative jobs.
As PM Modi prepares for his visit, these issues will likely feature prominently in discussions, alongside broader strategic and economic topics.
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