Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin vow to strengthen India-Russia ties to address challenges of post-coronavirus world

With the military stand-off along India-China disputed boundary still continuing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called up Russian President Vladimir Putin and reaffirmed the commitment of New Delhi and Moscow to further strengthen the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two nations.

The two leaders agreed to maintain the momentum of bilateral contacts and consultations, leading to the annual bilateral summit to be held later this year in India. The Prime Minister conveyed his keenness to welcome the Russian President in India for the bilateral summit, according to a press-release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

A statement issued by the Russian President’s office in Moscow said that Putin and Modi had agreed to continue close interaction, both in the bilateral format and within the framework of the international organisations.

Modi’s call to Putin on Thursday was significant, as Moscow has been engaged in backchannel talks with both New Delhi and Beijing to help end the stand-off along the disputed India-China boundary, even as the violent face-off in Galwan Valley on June 15 escalated tension between the two neighbouring nations.

However, the press-releases issued in New Delhi and Moscow after the talks between the two leaders had no reference to India-China stand-off.

Modi’s call to Putin was also important as it came amid growing perception that China’s belligerence along its disputed boundary with India might push New Delhi closer to the United States.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Russian President on the success of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the victory against Nazism in the World War 2. Modi recalled the participation of a contingent of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force in the military parade held in Moscow on the occasion on June 24. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the ceremony and had a meeting with Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu. They discussed fast-tracking some contracts for supply of military hardware by Russia to India.

Modi also congratulated Putin for successful completion of the vote on constitutional amendments in Russia.

The leaders took note of the effective measures undertaken by the two countries to address the negative consequences of the Covid-19 global pandemic and agreed on the importance of closer India-Russia ties for jointly addressing the challenges of the post-coronavirus world, stated the MEA.

Modi spoke to Putin over the phone just before New Delhi announced its decision to procure 21 MiG-29 and 12 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Russia.