The Putin-Modi meeting made it clear that India is committed to taking forward the decades-old trust and strategic partnership with Russia. On the other hand, Trump’s call shows that America has also understood that no superpower can make the mistake of ignoring a decisive partner like India. Especially when the world is moving towards new polarity and Asia is becoming the center of global balance of power. India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership was reviewed in the Modi-Trump conversation and both the leaders expressed satisfaction that cooperation in areas like defence, trade, energy and critical technology is continuously strengthening. This shows that despite holding intensive talks with the Russian President, India is pursuing its relations with America with the same determination. Without any pressure, without any compulsion.
PM Modi Vladimir Putin meeting. (PTI)
Trump especially emphasized on increasing trade and technology cooperation. This is the message that America wants India to maintain partnership with it in future technologies AI, cyber security, semiconductors, clean energy. This is also a sign of American concerns about China because America wants India to become the main pillar of its reliable tech-supply chain strategy. The most interesting aspect is that this call came at the same time when there is intense discussion in political circles that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may also visit India in the coming months. If this happens, it will be another big proof of India’s ‘balanced diplomacy’. By communicating with Russia, America and Ukraine and understanding the priorities of all three, India is strengthening its role as a global mediator.
Zelensky may also come to India soon
It is also clear that India is not going into any camp politics. Neither are we giving a message to America through our meetings with Russia, nor are we presenting America’s phone calls as any alignment against Russia. India’s foreign policy is now one of multi-alignment, where the objective of every partnership is only India’s long-term interests. The timing of this call shows that America also understands that India has now become an important pole of global diplomacy. Even after the warm meeting with Putin, America’s attitude neither became harsh nor was distant language adopted. This is a clear indication of the changing power equation, India is no longer a part of others’ strategy, but is a nation that decides its own strategy.
