NSA Doval Meets Russia’s First Dy PM, Meeting With China FM Soon: Shift In Ties Amid US Tariffs Tensions?

The rest of the year is going to be quite eventful in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s China visit and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Delhi trip later this year. All of this is crucial considering India’s increasing tariff tensions with the United States, with President Donald Trump announcing a 50% levy on New Delhi.

Trump has expressed his annoyance over India’s oil trade with Russia, citing it as the reason behind the high tariff levy. However, India didn’t seem to budge from its position and stressed that the trade will Moscow was in fact, being undertaken to keep the international prices in check and it will continue.

India bettering its ties with Russia?

Keeping the room open for strengthening ties with Russia, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russia’s First Deputy PM Denis Manturov on bilateral military-technical ties and implementation of joint projects in strategic sectors. The NSA is currently in Russia to engage in important talks on bilateral energy and defence ties.

Doval’s visit to Russia is of importance in view of President Putin’s visit to India later this year.

During their meeting on Friday (August 8), Doval and Manturov discussed “topical issues of Russia India military-technical cooperation, as well as the implementation of joint projects in other strategic sectors, including civil aircraft manufacturing, metallurgy, and the chemical industry.”

The key meeting came just a day after Doval called on met Putin at the Kremlin to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The NSA reaffirmed India’s commitment to continue cooperation on all fronts with Russia in spite of outside pressure.

Like Russia, India also opening bigger doors for China collaboration?

Trump’s higher tariffs on India seems to have had a catalytic effect on New Delhi’s ties with Beijing. The relations between the two neighbours had taken a serious hit after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. For the first time since, Prime Minister Modi is set to visit China for the SCO summit from August 31 to September 1.

Ahead of the big visit, NSA Doval is learnt to likely hold talks with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on August 18, Economic Times reported. Like already mentioned, the visit by the Chinese FM comes against the backdrop of a low phase in India-US ties following the US president’s tariff war.

Meanwhile, Beijing has welcomed PM Modi’s planned visit to the Tianjin summit, expressing hope that the event would be a “gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results”. “China welcomes Prime Minister Modi to China for the SCO Tianjin summit,” foreign ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.