Putin invites Modi to Russia: A look at their bonhomie

“We will be glad to see our friend, Mr Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Russia. We will be able to discuss all current issues and talk about the prospects for the development of Russian-Indian relations.” With these words, Russian president Vladimir Putin has extended an invite to the prime minister when he met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Putin has also said that he had spoken to the prime minister on the developments in Ukraine. “Many times, I advised him of how things have been going there and I know that he (PM Modi) is willing to do his utmost so that the issue is resolved by peaceful means,” he said, indicating that India will Russia will continue to discuss the issue. In his meeting with S Jaishankar, Putin also said that he was keen to meet Modi, but also noted that the prime minister had a busy political schedule next year. “The general elections in Parliament are scheduled for next year. We wish our friends every success in that and we hope that… anyway, no matter what the alignment of political forces would be, the traditional conventional friendly ties will persist between our nations,” the Russian president said, as per an NDTV report. This isn’t the first time that Putin has praised PM Modi or spoken kindly of him. In early December, the Russian strongman had applauded Modi of defending India’s national interests without being “intimidated”, and stated that the policy he held was the “main guarantor” of the progressively developing ties between the two countries. Let’s take a look at how ties between PM Modi and Russia’s Putin have evolved over the years. ‘Modi can’t be intimidated’ Putin said recently that PM Modi cannot be “forced or intimidated” to take a decision contrary to India’s interests. Addressing the 14th VTB Investment Forum ‘Russia Calling’ on Thursday (7 December), he said: “I cannot imagine that Modi could be intimidated or forced to take any actions, steps and decisions that are contrary to the national interests of India and Indians. And there is such pressure, I know,” reported ANI. “I just look at what is happening from the outside, and sometimes, to be honest, I’m even surprised at his tough position on defending the national interests of the Indian state," he added. [caption id=“attachment_13480932” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Russian president Vladimir Putin and deputy prime minister Alexei Overchuk attend the G20 virtual summit, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen on a screen, during a video link in Moscow, on 22 November. Reuters File Photo[/caption] Putin also spoke about India and Russia’s ties, saying they are “constantly developing in all directions and the main guarantor of this is the policy pursued by PM Modi”. Further, he pointed out that the trade turnover between the two countries was “growing”. “Last year it was 35 billion dollars per year, and in the first half of this year it was already 33.5 billion. That is, the growth will be significant. Yes, we all understand that, to a large extent, India receives preferences due to discounts on Russian energy resources. Well, he’s actually doing the right thing,” Putin was quoted as saying by ANI. The Russian president also said that enhancing the trade turnover with India would be “right”. His remarks come against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite pressure from Western countries, India has continued to buy discounted crude from Russia. New Delhi has also abstained from all UN General Assembly votes condemning Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. India has maintained a neutral position in the Ukraine conflict, with Modi famously telling Putin that the “era of war” is over. While Russia is a “longstanding and time-tested partner”, New Delhi has ensured not to vex the West by choosing sides in the war while preserving relations with Moscow. A ‘wise’ man Lauding Modi’s leadership in October, Putin described the Indian PM as a “very wise man”. He also slammed the West for “flirting” with India and praised the Modi government for acting independently, reported Bloomberg. Speaking at the 20th annual meeting of Moscow-based think tank Valdai International Discussion Club on 5 October, Putin said India is getting stronger each year under PM Modi. “I would like to say that the Indian leadership is independent and strongly nationally oriented,” the Russian president reportedly said. “They (the West) try to portray those who are not willing to blindly follow these Western elite groups as enemies. They have used this approach with various countries, including China, and tried to do this to India in certain situations”. “Attempts to turn India away from Russia are pointless, India is an independent state,” he added. In 2021, Putin had said Russia sees India as a “great power” and a friend with whom Moscow works in the military-technical field “in a way that we do not work with any of our partners”, reported Hindustan Times (HT). ALSO READ: Why Vladimir Putin wants Russian women to have ‘eight or more’ children Putin exalts ‘Make in India’ Putin has often hailed the Modi government’s ‘Make in India’. In September, Putin said PM Modi was doing the “right thing” by endorsing the initiative, saying Moscow should “emulate” this to promote Russian industries. He previously said that ‘Make in India’ has had a “truly impressive effect” on the Indian economy, according to PTI. “Our friends in India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a great friend of Russia, a few years ago presented a concept ‘Make in India’ and it had a very visible effect on the Indian economy,”, Putin was quoted as saying by WION. [caption id=“attachment_13480942” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, on 6 December 2021. Reuters File Photo[/caption] “It would do no harm to emulate what is working well, even if it was not us but our friends who created it,” he said at an annual forum ‘Strong ideas of our time’ in June. Launched in September 2014, the ‘Make in India’ progamme aims to promote India as the preferred global destination for manufacturing. Russia, which is reeling from Western sanctions, is trying to court India and other “friendly” countries. In October, Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin said that investment processes will be simplified for investors from 25 countries considered an ally by Moscow, including China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Modi is a ‘true patriot’ Putin has earlier praised India’s foreign policy on the Ukraine crisis as well as called PM Modi a “true patriot”. “We have special ties with India that are built on the foundation of really close allied relations for decades. We never had any difficult issues with India, we have always supported each other and I am positive that’s how it will remain in the future as well. PM Modi is one of those people in the world who is able to pursue an independent foreign policy in the interest of his country, and his people despite any attempts to stop him,” Putin said last October when asked about India’s role in a “post-hegemonic world”. “A lot has been done in the past years under the leadership of Modi. Naturally he is a patriot of his country. And his idea of Make in India, it matters. The future belongs to India. It can be proud of the fact that it is the largest democracy in the world and also be proud of its development momentum,” the Russian leader said at the time, as per Indian Express.  Putin’s remarks had come a month after he met Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The two leaders have not met face-to-face since then. However, there were reports in October that India and Russia are holding “high-level discussions” for a summit between Modi and Putin this year. With inputs from agencies