New Delhi: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, the US has made public its frustration with the visit, with the US envoy to India commenting that the relationship should not be taken for granted and that in “times of conflict” there is no such thing as strategic autonomy.
The US Ambassador’s comments came as American media reported the frustrations among senior American officials over the timing of the meeting between Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin — on the eve of a major North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit being hosted in Washington D.C.
“I respect that India likes its strategic autonomy. But in times of conflict there is no such thing as strategic autonomy. We will in crisis moments need to know each other and need to know that we are trusted friends, brothers and sisters, colleagues in times of need in the next day can be acting together,” said Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India Thursday at the CUTS Defence Conclave.
The US Ambassador to India added, “Do not take this relationship for granted. Enjoy every day of it, pay something into it…Let’s make sure that we look at each other not as a bet. Neither of us is a bride or a groom to be wooed or everyone’s friend at the party, but a strong set of powers.”
Garcetti further urged that the two countries should stand together “in principle against war.”
Modi’s first official bilateral visit since assuming power for a third time in June, was a two-day visit to Russia followed by a visit to Austria — a neutral member country a part of the European Union (EU), but not NATO.
According to The Washington Post, senior American officials including Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, spoke to Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra in early July urging a rescheduling of the India-Russia Summit, given that NATO was celebrating 75 years of its foundation and focused on strengthening its support to Ukraine as it defends against the Russian special military operation.
“The Moscow meeting came despite concerns conveyed to New Delhi by several senior administration officials earlier this month that the timing would complicate the “optics” for Washington, according to several U.S. officials familiar with the matter,” said the American newspaper, quoting unnamed sources.
The visit was seen as an attempt by India to flex its policy of “strategic autonomy,” especially as the Indian PM has been increasingly coveted by the Western powers, including making five consecutive appearances at the Group of Seven (G7) Summits and an official state visit to the US in 2023.
Also read: ‘Have had conversations with India in past 24 hrs’ over Modi’s visit to Russia, says US State Dept
The US and G7 countries have, in recent years, attempted to strengthen its relationship with India keeping China in mind, which is seemingly of interest for all parties. New Delhi, however, has maintained a long partnership with Moscow, especially in the defence sector and, since the situation in Ukraine began, a significant energy partnership.
While the US-India relationship has in recent years seen bi-partisan support, with both the Republican and Democratic parties and its leaders united on it, Modi’s visit to Moscow has also seen criticism from senior former officials from Donald Trump presidency.
“It is time to reassess the relationship with India based on much lower expectations,” said H.R. McMaster, the former National Security Advisor to Trump on X.
On the day Modi arrived in Russia, the largest children’s hospital in Kyiv was struck by a missile — a strike Ukraine blamed on Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the Indian Prime Minister for his bear hug of Putin that very day.
“It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” said Zelenskyy in a post on X.
In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russia’s brutal missile strike.
A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were… pic.twitter.com/V1k7PEz2rJ
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024
Russia denies that it was behind the strike and suggested that the attack was a result of falling missile debris from a Ukrainian air defence system.
Nevertheless, the optics of the bear hug, as the Western world condemned the strike and geared up for the NATO Summit, was considered to be “terrible” by US officials according to the Washington Post.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhari)
Also read: India’s role ‘especially important’ for peace between Russia & Ukraine, says Austrian Chancellor
America should be told to go f**k itself