NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Europe on Monday, with New Delhi’s failure to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine expected to be a major subject of discussion during talks with regional leaders.
India, which buys most of its military equipment from Russia, has been walking a tightrope between the West and Moscow for a long time. It has always asked for a stop to the fighting right away.
“My trip to Europe comes at a time when the continent confronts several difficulties and options,” Modi said before departing for Germany, Denmark, and France.
The prime minister wanted to “increase the spirit of collaboration” with European partners, “who are important allies in India’s drive for peace and development,” according to a statement from the Indian government.
On Monday, Modi was scheduled to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin before traveling to Copenhagen to join the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway for a two-day India-Nordic Summit beginning May 3.
He will also make a quick detour in France to meet with President Emmanuel Macron to “exchange perspectives on a range of regional and global problems and review continuing bilateral collaboration,” according to an Indian statement.
He told the Indian Express newspaper on Monday that “Russia’s aggression on Ukraine is at the top of the list” when he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The Russian strike was stunning and horrific in its savagery. Those guilty must be brought to justice. “I am optimistic that there is widespread agreement between our nations on this.”
Scholz is to invite Modi as a special guest to the Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ conference next month as part of a push to build a larger anti-Russian coalition, Bloomberg News reported Sunday.
According to unidentified sources, Scholz was worried about Modi’s failure to criticise Russia and India’s rising fossil fuel imports from the country and was unsure about the invitation until recently.
India raised its purchases of Russian oil considerably in March, but has reacted angrily to criticism, claiming that Europe’s use of Russian energy goods remained much larger.
At a Sunday press conference, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that European nations “not only understand, but also deeply appreciate” India’s stance on the dispute.
The visits and conversations would primarily concentrate on strengthening bilateral ties in a variety of sectors, including commerce, energy, and sustainable development, Kwatra added.
With Russia bleeding from Western sanctions, the Times of India newspaper said Monday that 50 Indian food, ceramics, and chemicals exporters would go to Moscow later this month in response to inquiries from Russian enterprises.
“The trade and financial sanctions placed on Russia… have created several opportunities for Indian enterprises in a variety of industries,” the newspaper reported Vivek Agarwal of lobby organisation the Trade Promotion Council of India, which is coordinating the trip.
“Indian enterprises, too, are eager to capitalise on the enormous market opportunity for Indian items in Russia,” he told the newspaper.
According to the newspaper, anonymous government sources said that supplies would begin only when Ukraine’s conflict ended.
