India has a well-established perspective on the war between Russia and Ukraine war – it favors dialogue over warfare and calls for an end to hostilities, a stance that it has often expressed in international fora.
But there has been a strategic shift indicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Moscow, his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his promise to strengthen bilateral commercial and defense relations.
The purpose of the tour is to make it clear to India’s Western allies that India is still dedicated to protecting its interests at home even as it navigates challenging international situations.
After all, an analysis by the Indian Express shows that, mostly as a result of Russian crude imports, India’s Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) saved over $10 billion between April 2022 and May 2024. It also sends a clear message to China and highlights India’s long-standing partnership with Russia in the face of shifting geopolitical conditions.
PM Modi’s ability to make audacious foreign policy decisions is evidenced by the close relationships he has built with Gulf nations while in office. India is charting its own path to safeguard its national interests, even as it cherishes its connections with the US and other Western countries.
Modi’s third term will see an acceleration of this trajectory. This forward-thinking strategy is demonstrated by the agreement to create Indo-Russian joint ventures for defense production and to facilitate military exports to friendly countries that have mutual agreements.
Also Read: Why China is conducting military drills near Ukraine
Modi’s visit to Austria after his journey to Russia is the Indian Prime Minister’s first official overseas tour since 1983, demonstrating a trend of looking for new alliances. Since Modi assumed office ten years ago, this trend has been apparent. In terms of its recent foreign policy choices, Modi’s third term stands out.
Modi is making a lot of noise on the international scene, from his swearing-in ceremony invitations to all of his neighbors—with the exception of China and Pakistan—to his strategic participation at the G-7 conference in Italy and his recent trips to Russia and Austria. An important component of Modi 3.0’s agenda is still foreign policy.
