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Putin and Modi have much in common, say aides ahead of summit Putin and Modi have much in common, say aides ahead of summit
(about 11 hours later)
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who will arrive in Delhi on Tuesday night, has much in common with Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, according to aides and diplomats from the leaders’ two countries. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who will arrive in Delhi on Wednesday night, has much in common with Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, according to aides and diplomats from the leaders’ two countries.
The two men, both in their early sixties, have met twice – at the July Brics summit in Brazil and at the G20 in Australia last month, where Putin received a chilly reception from western nations angered by Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine.The two men, both in their early sixties, have met twice – at the July Brics summit in Brazil and at the G20 in Australia last month, where Putin received a chilly reception from western nations angered by Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine.
His welcome in a smoggy but unseasonably temperate Delhi for his first summit with Modi will be much warmer. Russia and India have long had a close relationship, even if the two Asian powers have grown distant in recent decades.His welcome in a smoggy but unseasonably temperate Delhi for his first summit with Modi will be much warmer. Russia and India have long had a close relationship, even if the two Asian powers have grown distant in recent decades.
Officials hope the leaders of each power, one a former spy, the other a former organiser for a hardline rightwing organisation, will be able to develop a close personal bond that will bring the two states back together.Officials hope the leaders of each power, one a former spy, the other a former organiser for a hardline rightwing organisation, will be able to develop a close personal bond that will bring the two states back together.
“They’ve had two short meetings but they went very well. They understand each other,” said one Delhi-based Indian diplomat present on both occasions.“They’ve had two short meetings but they went very well. They understand each other,” said one Delhi-based Indian diplomat present on both occasions.
Delhi tilted towards Moscow during the cold war as hostile neighbour Pakistan grew close to the US. The era has left deep traces.Delhi tilted towards Moscow during the cold war as hostile neighbour Pakistan grew close to the US. The era has left deep traces.
In the Hindustan Times, a local newspaper, analyst Sushil Aaron described both states as “instinctively uncomfortable with the west’s dominance of global institutions and its alleged propensity to use narratives of a rules-based international system to suit its interests”.In the Hindustan Times, a local newspaper, analyst Sushil Aaron described both states as “instinctively uncomfortable with the west’s dominance of global institutions and its alleged propensity to use narratives of a rules-based international system to suit its interests”.
If the Communist party of India is a shadow of its former self, the influence of decades of leftwing activism and centrally planned socialist economic policies remains deep.If the Communist party of India is a shadow of its former self, the influence of decades of leftwing activism and centrally planned socialist economic policies remains deep.
One result is that although successive US administrations have sought to improve relations with India – President Obama has accepted an invitation to be chief guest at the nation’s Republic Day parade in January – Moscow can still rely on goodwill in Delhi that Washington can only envy.One result is that although successive US administrations have sought to improve relations with India – President Obama has accepted an invitation to be chief guest at the nation’s Republic Day parade in January – Moscow can still rely on goodwill in Delhi that Washington can only envy.
“Ask any child in India who is India’s best friend internationally and they will tell you that it is Russia,” said one Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official, echoing a comment made by Modi this year.“Ask any child in India who is India’s best friend internationally and they will tell you that it is Russia,” said one Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official, echoing a comment made by Modi this year.
India has strongly opposed EU and US sanctions on Russia over events in Ukraine while Russia has historically backed India’s position on the disputed Himalayan former kingdom of Kashmir.India has strongly opposed EU and US sanctions on Russia over events in Ukraine while Russia has historically backed India’s position on the disputed Himalayan former kingdom of Kashmir.
But it’s on the personal level that many believe the coming summit, an annual occasion, will work best.But it’s on the personal level that many believe the coming summit, an annual occasion, will work best.
“Modi and Putin get on very well together. Both ... are self-assured and charismatic leaders with a strong nationalist bent, who have a clear vision for their country and keep its best interests at heart,” said Ajai Malhotra, who was Indian ambassador to Russia until last year.“Modi and Putin get on very well together. Both ... are self-assured and charismatic leaders with a strong nationalist bent, who have a clear vision for their country and keep its best interests at heart,” said Ajai Malhotra, who was Indian ambassador to Russia until last year.
Less diplomatic commentators point out that support for both men is rooted in a populist promise to restore the former power and wealth of their respective nations. Both have explicitly said they hope to force their immediate neighbours to respect their local dominance, while domestically both are suspicious of “liberals” and distrust the mainstream media. Modi’s attitude to the west is ambivalent, with reservations on the cultural front but enthusiasm for technology and governance; Putin’s is increasingly hostile all round.Less diplomatic commentators point out that support for both men is rooted in a populist promise to restore the former power and wealth of their respective nations. Both have explicitly said they hope to force their immediate neighbours to respect their local dominance, while domestically both are suspicious of “liberals” and distrust the mainstream media. Modi’s attitude to the west is ambivalent, with reservations on the cultural front but enthusiasm for technology and governance; Putin’s is increasingly hostile all round.
The geopolitical context also throws India and Russia together. Senior Russian officials have said they expect sanctions against the country to be in place for years or decades to come, and have reiterated that Moscow will look elsewhere for new allies.The geopolitical context also throws India and Russia together. Senior Russian officials have said they expect sanctions against the country to be in place for years or decades to come, and have reiterated that Moscow will look elsewhere for new allies.
“Our goal is to find as many equal partners as possible,” Putin said during his annual state of the nation address last week. He said focus would be put on countries that did not mix economics and politics, with China and India the two most obvious targets.“Our goal is to find as many equal partners as possible,” Putin said during his annual state of the nation address last week. He said focus would be put on countries that did not mix economics and politics, with China and India the two most obvious targets.
Tatiana Shaumian of the India Studies Centre in Moscow noted defence cooperation, the diamond industry and energy as particular areas of focus for the summit. India, despite recent flagging growth, has a huge need for oil, gas and coal. Russia has done cut-price deals with China and Turkey on crucial energy resources in recent months. Moscow is also involved with India’s civilian nuclear power programme, building reactors in the south.Tatiana Shaumian of the India Studies Centre in Moscow noted defence cooperation, the diamond industry and energy as particular areas of focus for the summit. India, despite recent flagging growth, has a huge need for oil, gas and coal. Russia has done cut-price deals with China and Turkey on crucial energy resources in recent months. Moscow is also involved with India’s civilian nuclear power programme, building reactors in the south.
Some analysts are less convinced about the extent of the warmth between the two leaders.Some analysts are less convinced about the extent of the warmth between the two leaders.
C Raja Mohan, a leading Delhi-based foreign policy analyst, said that, though there was a “lot of sentiment”, there were some “big structural issues”. “Both men are nationalists and realists, strong leaders who want to do as much as they can. They need to salvage what they can from this relationship,” he said.C Raja Mohan, a leading Delhi-based foreign policy analyst, said that, though there was a “lot of sentiment”, there were some “big structural issues”. “Both men are nationalists and realists, strong leaders who want to do as much as they can. They need to salvage what they can from this relationship,” he said.
Sameer Patil, associate national security fellow at Gateway House thinktank in Mumbai, said trade between the two nations was particularly disappointing – about $10bn annually – and the defence relationship had been troubled by unreliability, defective spare parts and disagreements over the pricing of equipment.Sameer Patil, associate national security fellow at Gateway House thinktank in Mumbai, said trade between the two nations was particularly disappointing – about $10bn annually – and the defence relationship had been troubled by unreliability, defective spare parts and disagreements over the pricing of equipment.
Neither have signs that Russia is working to build a closer relationship with Pakistan pleased observers in Delhi, though analysts say there is a recognition that to expect Moscow to ignore Islamabad would be unrealistic.Neither have signs that Russia is working to build a closer relationship with Pakistan pleased observers in Delhi, though analysts say there is a recognition that to expect Moscow to ignore Islamabad would be unrealistic.
At least on the cultural front, there are signs that the two countries have things in common. While huge quantities of ideological literature were once printed in the USSR and distributed almost free in India, different cultural exchanges have taken their place, the MEA official said.At least on the cultural front, there are signs that the two countries have things in common. While huge quantities of ideological literature were once printed in the USSR and distributed almost free in India, different cultural exchanges have taken their place, the MEA official said.
“Now the [Russians] are into Bollywood and yoga, and we welcome them here in Goa.”“Now the [Russians] are into Bollywood and yoga, and we welcome them here in Goa.”