Under Modi's leadership, India has pursued the principle of "left and right" diplomacy, maintaining cooperation with the United States and friendship with Russia. After the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, despite constant pressure from the United States, India has always refused to "choose sides" and has strengthened cooperation with Russia in a rather high-profile manner.
And not so long ago, Modi gave Russia another big gift.
According to a report on the 26th, Indian media reported that Russia and India are discussing Indian Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia, and Modi may make a quick visit to Moscow on July 8, which will last for one day.
Although Russia and India have not officially confirmed Modi's visit to Russia, the United States seems to be unable to sit still.
According to a report by the Russian Satellite News Agency on the 27th, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell warned India that the United States is seeking to develop a stronger and deeper U.S.-India technical cooperative relationship, but expressed concern about India-Russia military and technical relations. The implication is that Indian-Russian relations are actually an obstacle to U.S.-India cooperation. Campbell said that the United States is taking steps to eliminate the negative impact of Indian-Russian relations. Of course, Campbell did not forget to emphasize the trust of the United States in India.
It has not been a day or two since there has been military-technical cooperation between India and Russia, Russia has long been the main supplier of Indian armaments, and in recent years, Russia and India have been promoting joint research and development and manufacturing of military equipment, and the United States is not aware of it today. In other words, the United States is well aware of the existence of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India, but still insists on wooing India and is willing to reach a military-industrial cooperation with India.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Campbell seems to be knocking on India, and the United States is so nervous about India-Russia relations, probably stimulated by the news that "Modi is about to visit Russia."
In this regard, the author would like to talk about three superficial views.
First, the United States inevitably began to be vigilant about India's attitude towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
It is reported that if Modi is confirmed to visit Russia, it will be the first visit to Russia by an Indian prime minister since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Prior to this, India refused to sign the joint statement of the Ukraine Peace Summit, denying that it could bring peace to Ukraine because it could not bring a solution acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.
That is, how to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, India cannot but care about Russia's wishes. This time, Modi made a special visit to Russia, and it is difficult to guarantee that he will not send any "surprises" to Russia.
Second, the United States is only afraid to start worrying that India is "more biased" towards Russia.
On June 9, Modi officially began his third term as India's prime minister, and if Modi confirms his visit to Russia without other arrangements, it will mean that the first country Modi will visit in the new term will be Russia. So, no matter what Modi's visit to Russia will achieve, of course, at the critical moment when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, and at a time when the West is escalating its suppression of Russia, Modi's visit to Russia is already a "big gift" to Russia.
However, the United States will certainly not be happy, India has long been left and right between the United States and Russia, and if Modi visits Russia for the first time in his new term, does it mean that this balance will be upset, and India's balance of choice will tilt in favor of Russia? Does this mean that, for India, the United States and Russia are beginning to have a clear proximity and alienation, and India will pay more attention to Russia? In this way, it is not difficult to understand that the United States will be "tasted" by India's attitude.
Third, Modi may have deliberately responded to the United States.
Looking back, the United States has really "offended" Modi in many ways.
Before India's election, the U.S. Department of Justice publicly accused Indian officials of participating in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Pannon in the United States.
In response to reports of India's involvement in the assassination of Sikh figures in the United States and Canada, the White House publicly stressed the seriousness of the incident, saying that the United States is taking this matter seriously and will continue to pay attention to it. At the same time, the "criticism" of the Indian election by the Western media has also aroused the dissatisfaction of the Modi government, for which Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar publicly blamed the Western media;
After the dust settled on India's general election and Modi confirmed that he would be re-elected as India's prime minister, news broke in the West that Indian citizens suspected of involvement in the assassination of Sikhs had been extradited to the United States, and on June 17, a court in New York began hearing the case.
Under Modi's leadership, India has not listened to the command of the United States, and has not been much in opposition to the United States, and a series of actions by the United States before and after the Indian election seem to be deliberately obstructing Modi. Now, Modi is starting his third term, and it is not impossible to "fight back" against the United States.
Of course, for the sake of India's interests, while making friends with Russia, Modi is likely to continue to maintain India's relations with the United States, and it will be interesting to see how Modi makes his next moves.