After cooling tensions with China, India to renew ties with Russia

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11

Having reduced tensions with China after the simultaneous disengagement of troops began in eastern Ladakh, India will renew its engagement with Russia that will culminate in a visit by Vladimir Putin for a summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said sources.

Besides dealing with bilateral issues, the South Block is keen on multilateral initiatives with Russia. It will seek to put the India-Japan-Russia trilateral on a firmer footing with the unstated purpose of reducing the need for Moscow to seek China’s participation in the development of the vast Russian Far East rich in minerals and hydrocarbons. A trial run of the Vladivostok-Chennai sea corridor will be followed up by more substantial programmes. India will also be looking to activate its $1 billion line of credit for the development of the Russian Far East.

India is also poised to produce the Sputnik vaccine, which could hit the markets by March-April after regulatory approvals. India has already earned much diplomatic goodwill by dispatching made-in-India vaccines far and wide. The commercial production of Sputnik will see India’s vaccine diplomacy extend its footprint to Central Asian and other countries.

Moscow visit, joint working group meet

In the run-up to a Modi-Putin summit, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will visit Moscow. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also co-chair a meeting of a joint working group.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.