In the shifting sands of international relations and diplomacy, there are no permanent friends or foes, it is said. This truism can perhaps be extended to say no strategic alliance between two countries is so sacrosanct that any one of them cannot have a relationship with a third country that has been painted, rightly or wrongly, as an international pariah state. This perhaps underpins India’s longstanding and time tested partnership with Russia even as India’s relationship with the US continues its upward trajectory. This was also in essence the message New Delhi sent to the world, particularly the west and the US, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured and feted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow recently even as Russia was raining missiles on Ukraine.

Modi’s much awaited 22nd annual summit with Putin, his first state visit after winning a third term in office, was neither an out of the box idea nor an extraordinary move. It was a pragmatic strategic step to convey to Russia, the West and the rest of the world that it will not be dictated by anyone else while conducting its foreign policy. Strategic self interest is foremost.

India defended this “freedom of choice” after a senior state department official said the US was “disappointed” with the “symbolism and timing” of Modi’s visit to Moscow. “In a multipolar world, all countries have freedom of choice. It is essential for everybody to be mindful of and appreciate such realities,” said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a media briefing, asserting India’s right to have friendly relations with any country. The west was also discomfited by the fact that the Indian PM landed in Moscow while NATO was meeting for its 75th anniversary. But the dates of a bilateral visit are offered by the host country so India could not have paused the visit just because the NATO countries were meeting.

While Beijing and Washington continue their rivalry in the South China Sea and beyond, they are, ironically, bound by a common strategic interest. Both would like to see a declining relationship between India and Russia. Hence, it is imperative that India and Russia maintain their relationship at the best possible level. Modi went to Moscow at a time when the West has been trying to isolate Russia. But as if in defiance, Russia rolled out the red carpet for the Indian PM; Modi and Putin had dinner at the latter’s home, the Russian President even took to the wheel to drive Modi around his Dacha in an electric vehicle. Modi was presented Russia’s highest civilian award, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle for his stellar contribution to India-Russia ties. The award was announced in 2019.