Trying times are ahead for the Indian foreign policy establishment caught between American heat over the Ndeal and Russian frost over New Delhi’s growing military ties with US.
Moscow’s snub to Pranab, Antony over ties with the US
MOSCOW: Trying times are ahead for the Indian foreign policy establishment caught between American heat over the nuclear deal and Russian frost over New Delhi’s growing military ties with Washington.
After external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee was given the cold shoulder in Moscow last week, it was defence minister AK Antony’s turn to face a frosty welcome in the Russian capital.
Like Mukherjee, Antony did not get a meeting with President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov although the Russians had indicated both calls were on.
Antony also had to cancel at least one of his engagements, a visit to the Tactical Missile Corporation, at the last minute after the Russians expressed their inability to arrange the visit.
Indian diplomats were reluctant to talk about the signals from the Putin government. Sources, however, admitted the Russians have been directly and indirectly letting New Delhi know their worry over India’s growing closeness to the US. Especially at a time when Russia is fast emerging as the counter to US hegemony in global affairs.
Seen in the context of Russia’s increasing belligerence towards the US, topped by Putin’s high-profile visit to Iran early this week, the view in Indian diplomatic circles is that Moscow’s frosty behaviour with two senior ministers is a clear signal of its annoyance over India’s eagerness to cosy up to the US.
The Russians are particularly worried about reports that India is looking to buy defence hardware from the US. Russia has been the traditional supplier of arms and military equipment to India, with purchases running into millions of dollars every year.
Sources pointed out that senior Indian ministers were always given a warm welcome in Moscow. Last year, Putin had met Mukherjee when the latter visited as defence minister.
This year, as external affairs minister, Mukherjee hit the low-point of bilateral ties with a humiliating body search at the airport before he boarded the flight back home.
The Russians have tendered an apology, blaming a breakdown of communications for Mukherjee’s humiliation. But the government is not buying the explanation.
Whatever may be the diplomatic explanations for these developments, it is now very clear that the Manmohan Singh government has to work extra hard to restore its prestige in Moscow and bring back the warmth to bilateral relations.
For sure, there is a clear political agenda behind a series of high profile visits from New Delhi in recent days, which would summit with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting the Russian Capital on November 11 to 13.
However, Dr Singh this time around will have his job cut out convincing Russia of its unique strategic importance in India’s global relations. This is an exercise already set in motion by both Mukherjee and Antony, but that doesn’t seem to have cut much ice with the hurt Russians.
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