Modi’s chummy visit with Putin poses conundrum for U.S., allies

It is one of the biggest conundrums facing U.S. foreign policy strategists: The world’s biggest democracy, while postured against China, embraces Russia.

While the leaders of Japan, South Korea and New Zealand huddled in Washington with their North American and European counterparts on the sidelines of the NATO summit, Indian President Narendra Modi wrapped up two days with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Mr. Modi traveled on to Vienna on Wednesday for meetings with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leaving Mr. Putin with some grounds for satisfaction.

While the summit did not gain the extraordinary global coverage of Mr. Putin’s trip to North Korea last month, the optics were good: The two men hugged at one point and were filmed on an amicable visit to Mr. Putin’s private stables.

Meanwhile, the deals done offered the Russian leader another breach in the wall of economic sanctions that a frustrated West has sought to erect around his economy as a response to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The summit was “historic and game-changing,” Russia’s charge d’affaires Roman Babushkin told Indian media on Wednesday.

Indian has expanded its consumption of Russian oil and gas — at discounted prices — and deals were signed to increase sales.

Discussions were also held on the sale of Russian coal. The two countries agreed to settle international payments using their respective currencies, bypassing the U.S. dollar.

Another agreement was signed on space cooperation — India this year soft-landed a probe on the moon, while a similar Russian effort failed.

India has historically acquired the bulk of its arms from Russia, and last week, a Moscow manufacturer revealed a joint project with India to manufacture ammunition for India’s T72 and T90 tanks.  

However, Moscow’s armorers are now working all out to supply troops in Ukraine and despite the summit, the status of one major bilateral deal remains unclear. India has reportedly ordered six squadrons of Russian S-400 air defense missiles, though only four have been delivered so far.

While India under Mr. Modi has declined to criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or condemn it in United Nations votes, Mr. Putin did not escape the summit completely unscathed when the Indian leader made an oblique but pointed reference to the war.

“When innocent children are killed, the heart bleeds and that pain is very terrifying,” Mr. Modi said — a pointed reference to a Russian missile strike on Kyiv’s Children’s Hospital on Monday. “A solution is not possible on the battlefield. I assure you that India and the global community favors peace.”

Mr. Putin maintained his customary poker face while listening, but smiled and nodded in response to Mr. Modi’s comments.

India’s energy partnership with Russia meant India could control the sharp global hikes in oil and diesel prices, Mr. Modi said, “and help the citizens of our country by providing them with stability for which I would like to express our gratitude.”

Western officials — which have cultivate India as a counterweight to a rising China in Asia — have been careful not to criticize India’s relationship with Russian in public.

“India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue, and that includes on our concerns about the relationship with Russia,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters this week when asked about Mr. Modi’s visit to the Kremlin.