India won’t abandon its relationship with Russia, says US NSA

Washington, July 21

There was no tangible evidence of India deepening its military and technology relationship with Russia, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, asserting that Moscow, which had become a “junior partner” to China, was not necessarily going to be a “great and reliable friend” to India in a future contingency.

Sullivan made these remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, while responding to questions about the recent visit of PM Narendra Modi to Russia for bilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin.

“I think the biggest question is: Do we see tangible evidence that India is deepening its military and technology relationship with Russia? And I did not see tangible evidence out of that visit that it was deepening; I didn’t see deliverables in that space,” Sullivan said.

“Don’t you think the bear hug (with Putin) was significant then?” he was asked. “Well, Modi has a certain way, of course, of greeting world leaders. I’ve seen it up close and personal, actually,” Sullivan said. — PTI

‘Talks in Pannun case effective’

The conversation with India regarding the allegations of a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist in the US that involved an Indian government official had been “respectful and effective”, said US NSA Sullivan.