Putin to Discuss India Visit with Modi in China

Strategic Insights -

Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the preparation for his visit to India in December with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China. The meeting comes amid growing ties between Russia and India, and after the US imposed tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. Putin's visit to India is a significant development, considering Russia's energy incomes are a key source of revenue for its state budget, and the country has been redirecting energy sales from Europe to India and China.

Key Takeaways:

  • The meeting between Putin and Modi will take place on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in China's Tianjin on Monday.
  • Putin's visit to India in December comes amid growing ties between the two countries, and after the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent penalty tariffs on account of India's purchase of Russian oil.
  • Russia has compensated for the loss of energy sales from Europe by redirecting them to other countries, including India and China.
  • More than 10 bilateral meetings of Putin are scheduled to take place during the SCO and SCO+ summits.
  • Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said that preparations for Putin's December visit will be discussed during the meeting with Modi.
  • The dates of Putin's visit to India were still being finalized, according to people familiar with the matter.

Statistics:

  • 50 per cent: Tariffs imposed by the US on India, including 25 per cent penalty tariffs on account of India's purchase of Russian oil.
  • Over 10: Number of bilateral meetings of Putin scheduled to take place during the SCO and SCO+ summits.
  • 2022: Year in which Russia's military assault on Ukraine led to Western allies pushing towards cutting off of Russia's export earnings.
  • March: Month in which Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that Putin accepted the invitation extended by PM Modi.

Sources:

  • Sputnik: Quoted Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov as saying that "preparations for our president's upcoming visit to India at the very end of the year, in December, will be discussed."
  • AFP: Reported on the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent penalty tariffs on account of India's purchase of Russian oil.
  • Hindustan Times: Published an article on the same topic, citing the Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.