Modi, Putin reaffirm commitment to deepening ties amid US tariff tension

In a telephonic conversation, PM invites Russian President to visit India later this year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to "further deepen" the ‘special and privileged strategic partnership’ between India and Russia. Modi invited Putin to visit India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

 

The Modi-Putin phone call, and their resolve to "further deepen" New Delhi- Moscow ties, is significant for its timing. It took place 48 hours after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose a penalty of 25 per cent on Indian goods for New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil. The total duties that the White House has imposed on Indian goods are 50 per cent, one of the highest that the US has imposed on any country in the world. The additional 25 per cent duty will come into effect on August 27. 

 

Modi spoke with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday, where the two discussed a broad range of issues, including high tariffs that the US has imposed on the two countries. Modi is slated to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on August 31 to September 1 in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. He is also likely to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Russia, China, India and Brazil are the founding members of Brics, and the recent consultations between the top leaders of these countries is crucial in the context of the White House increasing tariffs, including the penalty it has imposed on India for buying Russian oil. In a terse statement on Wednesday, after the White House imposed the penalty, India had termed America’s targeting of India as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”. “India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests,” New Delhi had said. 

 

In a post on X, Modi said he had a very good and detailed conversation “with my friend President Putin”. “I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda,” the PM said. “I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year,” he said. The Modi-Putin phone conversation also came a day after India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on the Russian President in Moscow, and held talks with Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, where the two stressed India and Russia’s commitment to their strategic partnership.

 

According to the state-owned Russian media, Putin also held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier in the day. The two discussed the visit of Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow. Xi said that China welcomes contacts between Russia and the US. Russia and the US are looking at organising an early meeting between Trump and Putin.

 

In a related development, China on Friday welcomed Modi’s planned visit to the Tianjin Summit of the SCO, describing the event as "a gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results.” It will be Modi’s first visit to China after seven years. Putin is also scheduled to attend the SCO summit. Putin will also attend the SCO Summit.