The US has come to understand that India has strategic imperatives towards Russia, said Mira Shankar, a former Indian ambassador to the US.
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“Both countries have to overcome their different views on Ukraine, and to the credit of the parties, albeit reluctantly, the United States has come to understand that there are strategic imperatives that India has regarding Russia,” Indian Minister Narendra Modi said.
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Earlier, the Indian Foreign Ministry announced that Narendra Modi, at the invitation of President Joe Biden and his wife, will pay an official state visit to the United States. The visit will begin in New York, where on June 21 the Prime Minister of India will lead the celebration of the International Day of Yoga at the UN Headquarters. After that, he will travel to Washington, where he will meet with President Biden on June 22 to continue their high-level dialogue.
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On the same day, the Prime Minister of India will address a joint session of the US Congress, and on June 23 he will be invited to lunch with US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. In addition to official meetings, the Indian prime minister is scheduled to have several meetings with “heads of leading companies, professionals and other interested parties.”
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“Concern has been expressed in the US Congress that the US should do more in terms of access to technology and weapons to keep India away from Russia or reduce India’s dependence on Russia for defense equipment. But India has made its position clear as to its connections with Russia, and on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. For India, this is not our main goal, our main goal is the modernization of our capacities,” the ex-ambassador noted.
