Putin’s India Pivot inside: Why Russia is trying to woo New Delhi in an alliance with China

“This is not really the way to make friends and influence people in America,” Lutnik said, seeing that President Trump “called out directly,” and the Government of India is now exclusively addressing it. “Despite such differences, Lutnik killed an optimistic tone, called India’s economy “extraordinary” and praised its “amazing” human capital and development. He said that both countries are working towards a trade agreement and “You should expect a deal … Not a very distant future. ,

India Pitch of Lavarov

Russian External Affairs Minister Sergei Lavarov revealed new efforts to woo India by speaking in Perm on Friday. He claimed that Moscow was told that India joined the Quad Alliance, including the US, Australia and Japan, purely for economic cooperation. But Lavarov warned that the alliance was being militarized behind the curtain.“In practice, other countries of the quad are already trying, already insisting on organizing the Navy and other military exercises,” said Lavrov. “And I am sure our Indian friends can clearly see this provocation,” he said.Also read: ‘US, other quad countries are trying to force India into military alliance instead of business,’ Russia claimsLavarov’s commentary came a day before the announcement of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the US was deepening its military relations with India. Hegseth cited joint exercises such as Tiger Triumph and Toveson Kiss as evidence of increasing strategic coordination of strategic coordination in Indo-Pacific. He also pointed to the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network and Piper initiative as efforts to integrate the defense infrastructure of the region.Hegseth said, “The miscreants spoke of the strategy, the professionals spoke of logistics,” Hegseth said, indicating the American goal of building a constant and interconnected defense appearance in Asia. He emphasized that Trump’s foreign policy was “based in general knowledge and national interest” and stressed that a flexible alliance of equal ideologies remains the biggest strength of America against Chinese ambitions.But for Russia, these tricks describe Lavrov as a western trick for “split and victory”, part of a phrase that he says that President Putin recently used. Lavrov warned that Asia-Pacific’s rebranding in “Indo-Pacific” was designed to separate China and weaken ASEAN.

Re -look at the old alliance

Perhaps Russia-India-China (RIC) was the most important sign from Lavarov for revival of tripartite dialogues. Originally proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeni Primacov, has met more than 20 times and served as a platform for cooperation in business, finance and foreign policy.“Now that is … there has been an understanding on how to calm the situation on the border between India and China, it seems that the time has come to revive this Rick Troika,” Lavarov said. He implicated the equivalent of a valuable mechanism that could balance the impact of a western-undertaking alliance such as a quad.

India’s strategic tight

However, India’s position is complex. Over the years, India has enjoyed a privileged position as one of Russia’s largest arms importers. Moscow provided state-of-the-art weapons to India, sometimes it was also earlier deployed in the Russian Army itself.From India’s strategic perspective, the RIC format bears other risks. Beijing is occupying an important position in the strategic balance of South Asia, mainly through its deep alliance with Islamabad. India is worried that any tripartite cooperation will be reduced until China rethinks its long military and nuclear support for Pakistan.In addition, the alleged anti-American tilt of the Rick format is another glued point. Along with deepening the Indo-American relations under both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump, it may be difficult to align New Delhi in ways with Russia and China on especially on defense and technology cooperation that may appear contrary to its current trajectory.

‘Wishing by Russia’

Professor Rajan Kumar, speaking with the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University Timesofindia.comSaid that Russia’s push for a revived RIC format “may be a wishful thinking by Russia, and it fly in terms of the real world and current geopolitical landscape.”However, he agreed with the warning of Foreign Minister Lavarov that Western India wants to “divide and conquer”.Will RIC serve as a platform for direct arbitration with China, Professor Kumar said that “although India and China are members of many international organizations, such as BRICS and SCOs, a direct arbitration with China is not possible.” Especially after the Ladakh incident in 2020, after which the trust of New Delhi with Beijing has disappeared. ,

‘India has strategic autonomy’

Asked whether India should align with the US or Russia, he warned that “Given the current policies of the Trump administration, India may not depend on the United States. The world has moved towards protectionism as a result of the US President’s policy, and has rejected the possibility of joint production of weapons in terms of defense production.” He said that referring to India’s long tradition of strategic autonomy, India has always maintained a policy of strategic autonomy, and it does not have China’s policy to include other countries in its policy, and India sees China as a rival country. I am confident that there is a possibility of increasing tension between New Delhi and Beijing in the coming time. “Russia will affect India’s defense behavior with Russia to take military equipment from China from China during its war with Ukraine, Professor Kumar saw: “Yes, we have somewhat dependence on Russian defense equipment, as recently seen in the Indo -Pakistan War, with successful use of S -400 on the protective front and with Brahmos missiles. But yes, we are also trying to diversify our defense, along with the deals of Israel and France.,

Balance of India act

Professor Rajan welcomed India’s efforts to promote indigenous defense production, given that “a good thing is that India has also increased its own defense production and is moving towards becoming a major defense exporter; however, when its defense behavior is still smaller than other countries.”Speaking on how India’s intimate relations with Russia can be led by Russia to question China’s support for Pakistan, he said that “India has repeatedly expressed concern about both China and Pakistan, especially about Islamabad’s support for terrorist groups. Nevertheless, India cannot determine the Russian foreign policy, as Moscow is struggling with its own geopolitical obstacles. Since the full -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has faced separation and restrictions from the West, forcing it to deepen relations elsewhere. India refrains from banning relations with Western democracy, especially banning Russia and avoids the United Nations’ proposals condemning Moscow. This stance reflects India’s effort to balance relations rather than align perfectly with Western positions. Concurrently, India participates in quadrilateral security dialogue (quad) with the US, Australia and Japan, a group often seen as a strategic counterweight for China’s influence. ,

What is the road ahead?

India is ready to maintain its careful balance act. In practice, New Delhi will probably deepen its defense relations with logistics cooperation and joint exercises for the US, while continuing important systems from Russia will remain in its domestic industry wherever the gaps will remain. At the same time, India’s focus focuses on enhancing indigenous production and creating a new partnership with France and Israel that Moscow’s overstitcher, although accepted, will be weighed against the comprehensive economic and strategic interests. Whatever RIC can be, the main priority of New Delhi will protect its own strategic autonomy to manage great power competition without being dependent on any one capital.