President Biden emphasised rising protection cooperation with India in a digital assembly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday — a line U.S. officers have more and more touted within the hopes of convincing New Delhi to return off the fence over Russia’s battle on Ukraine.
India has lengthy been reliant on Russia for navy {hardware}, an essential issue within the deep historic ties between the 2 international locations. And so regardless of international condemnations of Russian aggression in Ukraine, Mr. Modi’s administration has tried to stay impartial — refraining from criticizing Russia, whereas calling for negotiations and interesting Ukraine with humanitarian help.
Whereas American officers have been understanding of the complexity of India’s balancing act, seeing New Delhi as an essential ally within the face of an assertive China, they’ve at instances expressed frustration that India’s stance is providing President Putin some cowl. Some U.S. officers have warned of penalties if India expands commerce with Russia, particularly any improve in buying oil, because the West tries to tighten sanctions.
India imports solely about one p.c of its oil wants from Russia. Many Indian officers have spoken of a double commonplace, with Europe persevering with to import oil from Russia whereas India’s imports come below elevated scrutiny.
President Biden echoed sentiments that different U.S. officers have expressed in latest weeks in makes an attempt to reassure India that its supply of navy {hardware} wouldn’t run dry have been it to take a firmer stance in opposition to Russia.
“We share a robust and rising main protection partnership,” President Biden stated in his opening remarks, earlier than the protection and overseas ministers of each international locations sat for prolonged dialogue. “The US and India will proceed our shut consultations on handle the destabilizing results of this Russian battle.”
India’s protection purchases from america have elevated over the previous decade to about $20 billion. However analysts have stated increasing the ties to the purpose the place India’s dependency on Russian navy {hardware} would wane shall be gradual as it will require overcoming deeply rooted hesitancy within the relationship between america and India that dates again many years.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Modi continued India’s delicate line on Ukraine — expressing concern in regards to the struggling attributable to the battle however refraining from calling out Russia because the aggressor.
“Our talks at this time are happening at a time when the scenario in Ukraine could be very worrying,” Mr. Modi stated. “Throughout this complete course of I spoke a number of instances to the presidents of each Ukraine and Russia. I not solely appealed for peace, but in addition urged there be direct talks between President Putin and the president of Ukraine.”