Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Russia has unsurprisingly received a mixed reception in the United States. While some critics call it New Delhi’s “Moscow miscalculation,” others see it as India asserting its “strategic autonomy.”
The issue of Modi’s Moscow trip arose this week during a hearing at the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs. A top White House official in the Biden administration noted that the visit was high on symbolism but lacked major deliverables. “I could not agree with you more about our disappointment about the symbolism and the timing of Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Moscow. We are having those tough conversations with our Indian friends,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu told American lawmakers at a Congressional hearing on Tuesday.
No New Major Defense Deals
Lu acknowledged Modi’s meetings with Zelensky at the G7 Summit sidelines and his statement to Putin on war tactics. “Then we were looking very carefully at what Modi did when he was in Moscow. We did not see any new major defense deals. We saw no major discussion of technology cooperation. In addition, you have Modi having said in front of Putin on live television, his feeling that the war in Ukraine could not be won on the battlefield and the pain that he felt watching the death of children in war,” Lu said.
Representative Joe Wilson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs expressed shock over Modi’s embrace of Putin on the day missiles hit a children’s hospital. Wilson praised Modi’s leadership but noted previous US concerns about the visit. This hearing came as US officials, including State and White House spokespeople, Ambassador Eric Garcetti, and NSA Jake Sullivan, have raised concerns about Modi’s Moscow visit.
Humanitarian Concerns Highlighted
Despite criticism over Modi and Putin’s public displays, Modi’s remarks on humanitarian issues have been noted and appreciated in Washington. Earlier this month, PM Modi told Putin, “Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks – everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense.”
Modi’s visit to Moscow underscores the delicate balance India seeks to maintain in its foreign policy, navigating relationships with major global powers while asserting its own strategic interests. As global scrutiny continues, India’s diplomatic moves will remain a focal point in international relations.
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