In the shadow of war: The Hindu editorial on Modi-Biden virtual summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden have organized a virtual summit before kicking India and US ‘2+2’ meetings, discussions Covering foreign and defense policies respectively in the bilateral space. On the one hand, these high-level discussions represent a continuation in the upward trajectory of India-US cooperation across a deep spectrum of bilateral cooperative relations; Yet on the other hand they underscore the importance of the world’s largest and oldest democracies re-engaging in consultations at a time when the war in Ukraine has clouded worldwide uncertainty. Although there are clear differences between their strategic position since the Russian invasion, the summit served as an opportunity to emphasize areas where they shared a similar view, particularly the violence against civilians in Ukrainian cities. in condemnation. However, there was a larger policy agenda to follow through on the intervening reversals of the COVID-19 pandemic – including global challenges related to public health, space and technology cooperation, regional, maritime and cyber security, and the climate crisis. Beyond these specific areas, where India-US cooperation has the potential to improve the lives of millions, one of the top priorities was to ensure that the rules-based international order was not further eroded as it applied to the Indo-Pacific. it happens.

Yet, whether with regard to Indo-Pacific or bilateral defense and energy cooperation, Mr. Modi and Mr. Biden may have found it difficult, if not impossible, to avoid the topic of Russia. Moscow remains New Delhi’s biggest supplier of defense imports, and unilateral US-imposed sanctions on trade with Russian entities could stifle India’s procurement plans unless a clear waiver is granted. Nowhere does this apply more prominently to India’s $5.5 billion purchase of the S-400 anti-missile system from Russia, a move that falls under the US Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). . Moreover, the Modi government also appeared prickly about its oil imports from Russia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a press event after a meeting, adding that Washington’s focus in this regard should first be on European imports of Russian energy, Which dwarfed India. , As human rights violations and apparent war crimes escalate in the Ukraine war, India, which seeks recognition as a principled voice and responsible power on the global stage, may have to walk a fine line regarding strategic support for Russia. . However, the US position on India is no less fragile, as it relies on close ties with New Delhi and a strong record of bilateral cooperation to balance China’s aspiration and act as a regional hegemony.