Biden leadership upset by Modi-Putin’s advice at NATO summit

The Moscow meeting came despite concerns expressed to Delhi earlier this week by several senior management officials that the timing would complicate “optics” for Washington, according to multiple US officials familiar with the area.

One of those officials was SHAPE’s deputy secretary, Kurt Campbell, who spoke to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra in early July in the hope of avoiding a Modi-Putin meeting to coincide with this year’s summit, according to officials. can be rescheduled. , who explained the delicate negotiations on condition of anonymity. The summit celebrates the 75th anniversary of the alliance’s beginning, and its members are trying to sign off on strong support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression.

Despite US objections, Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday and warmly embraced Putin – a photo that was criticized Via Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – Within hours nearby Russian bombs killed several bundled people in action across Ukraine, including at a children’s medical institution in Kiev. Modi called Putin “my dear friend”.

The episode highlights the complexities for the Biden leadership as it seeks to deepen its strategic ties with a rising Asian power that is willing to partner with the US against China – but also while maintaining Washington’s sovereignty and confronting Moscow. Also eager to maintain relations with him.

The public said there was widespread concern within the Biden leadership about the meeting and its timing this year. The optics were “terrible”, said one reputable person.

“Very unfair,” said someone else.

“We have made it clear our concerns with India about their relations with Russia,” Shape Segment spokesperson Matthew Miller advised reporters on Monday.

At a press conference in Delhi on Thursday, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti indirectly complained about the Moscow meeting and warned India that it should not ignore America’s friendship “lightly”.

“I have to fight a lot of defensive battles to move this relationship forward,” he said. “I respect that India likes its strategic autonomy. “But there is no such thing as strategic autonomy in times of conflict.”

The Indian International Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Indian officials say they are deeply concerned by the growing closeness between Beijing and Moscow and argue that their international ties with Moscow act as a brake on unbridled cooperation. They say they have the wrong choice but to build relations with both the US and Russia and balance both relationships.

During the Cold War, Indian leaders maintained a policy of “non-alignment”, which led to distrust of the US and militaries allied with the Soviet Union. The country is keen to remain sovereign, avoiding linking too closely with Moscow or Washington and establishing itself as the leader of the international South.

India has turned to the US for help in countering China, its giant neighbor with which it has a tense and disputed border. Additionally it is yearning for generational financing and partnerships from the US security, sector and semiconductor industries to expand its production scale and enhance its high-tech capability. The US is one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment to the Republic of India, and the government has signed agreements with Western technology companies like Apple that are looking to diversify their supply chains.

However, India is heavily dependent on Moscow to hand over proper power to an economy growing at 7 percent, and unused Delhi officials say they need Russian ammunition and parts to keep their army afloat.

“I think there is an understanding within the (Biden) administration that India’s continued engagement with Russia is driven partly by self-preservation, partly by self-interest, but also by strategic assessments. The focus has been on China,” said Samir Lalwani, a senior South Asia expert at the US Institute on Ease.

Lalwani said India should maintain access to supplies, spare parts and technical support to maintain its vast arsenal of Russian guns. It is also keen to benefit from cheap Russian oil to fuel its growing economy – it is now the biggest buyer.

Indian and Russian officials announced this year that they were negotiating long-term trade with Russia to supply crude oil, herbal fuel and uranium nuclear fuel to India. Russian order nuclear power company said it is offering to build additional nuclear reactors in India.

According to senior officials involved in the matter, Campbell told Quatra that management understands that Unveiled Delhi has a long relationship with Moscow and is trying to ensure that the Russia-China relationship does not deepen. However, the main concern was that Modi’s meeting with Putin as the leaders of NATO’s 32 nations were gathering in Washington would complicate the alliance’s effort to isolate Putin and deepen the US-India rapprochement. Will raise questions on motivated schemes. Dating and regional discussion.

NATO has invited four Indo-Pacific countries and longtime NATO allies – Australia, Japan, unrecognized Zealand and South Korea – to wait until the summit, and will take stock of the ongoing session on Thursday. The Republic of India, which has refrained from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is not a NATO partner nor a member of the team known as the “Indo-Pacific Four”.

On Wednesday, HR McMaster, Donald Trump’s former national security assistant, posted on Twitter: “It is time to reevaluate relations with India based on very low expectations.”

Campbell, a staunch supporter of US-India dating, assured Kwatra that the Biden leadership will continue to work with the Modi government to advance projects in complex technology, defense cooperation and clean energy., He advised Kwatra that the management would soon support his appointment as India’s Ambassador to the US.

The United States views the Republic of India as a strategic counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific region. National Security Assistant Jake Sullivan and Campbell traveled to Untapped Delhi last week to discuss advancing U.S.-Republic of India partnerships and enhancing India’s role in multilateral engagement with other key regional partners.

In February 2022, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping promised a “no-limit” partnership, just days before Putin sent thousands of troops to the border in Ukraine. This year, NATO contributors issued a joint communique that noted that China was “a decisive factor in Russia’s war against Ukraine through its so-called ‘no borders’ partnership and massive support for Russia’s defense industrial base.” Has become a supporter.”

“The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and the PRC (People’s Republic of China) and their mutually reinforcing efforts to undermine and reshape the rules-based international order are cause for deep concern,” the file said.

This year, Russian officials and media reportedly sought advice from Modi. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Western governments “are jealous – that’s why they are keeping a close eye on this.”

Lisa Curtis, director of Indo-Pacific security at the Center for an Unutilized American Security and a former senior White, said, “The Biden leadership assesses that India is too willing to sacrifice relations with China based on this ineffective visit for its goals.” is important.” Prestigious positions within the Trump management,

Although, he said, while a future Republic of India certainly has good reasons to try to drive a wedge between China and Russia, the reality is that they will not be able to do so. I think that’s wishful thinking.”