The United States has raised concerns over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia. The U.S. State Dept made the statement about a meeting between Indian PM Modi and Russian President Putin. The West has taken a strong stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
India has faced pressure from the West to distance itself from Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine. New Delhi has thus far resisted that pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and its economic needs opens new tab.
Modi met Putin in Russia on Monday in the prime minister’s first visit since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In a post on social media platform X, the prime minister said his talks with Putin “will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship” between the two countries.
“I will look to Prime Minister Modi’s public remarks to see what he talked about but as I said, we have made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia,” a State Department spokesperson said in a press briefing.
“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.”
Russia has been India’s largest weapons supplier since the Soviet Union days. However, India has also been seeking other options, as the Ukraine war hobbled Russia’s ability to supply munitions and spares.
Washington in recent years has looked to woo New Delhi opens new tab, with political analysts saying the U.S. sees India as a counter to China in the Asia-Pacific.
While the West has tried to isolate Moscow from the global economy, China, India, Middle Eastern countries, African nations and Latin America have continued to maintain ties with Russia.
(With inputs from Reuters)
