US warns India

The United States has urged India not to warm up to Russia ahead of a visit by Moscow’s top diplomat, who would press New Delhi to oppose Western pressure to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

India has voted against UN resolutions condemning Moscow and continues to buy Russian oil from its “longstanding and time-tested ally” and largest arms supplier.

However, Delhi shares Western concerns about Beijing’s aggression in the Asia-Pacific area, as seen by the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese troops in a clash on their disputed Himalayan border in 2020.

In a visit to Delhi, Daleep Singh, Washington’s senior sanctions strategist, was cited by local media as stating that if there was another clash, India could not rely on Russia.

“In this partnership with China, Russia will be the subordinate partner. And the more influence China has over Russia, the less favourable the situation becomes for India “On Thursday, Singh was reported as saying.

“I don’t think anyone believes that if China breaches the Line of (Actual) Control again, Russia would rush to India’s help,” he added, referring to the India-China border.

Faced with huge Western sanctions in reaction to its February invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has announced a “no-limits alliance” with China, which has likewise refused to criticise Russia’s conduct.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov landed in Delhi late Thursday after a visit to China, where he praised Beijing as part of a new “multipolar, fair, and democratic international order.”

On Friday Lavrov was set to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.

According to media reports, India and Russia are developing a rupee-ruble system to ease commerce and circumvent Western restrictions on Russian institutions.

According to the local Economic Times daily, Russia has written to India’s defence minister asking clearance of $1.3 billion in payments that have been blocked since last month.

Singh stated that the US is willing to assist India, the world’s third largest oil importer and user, in diversifying its energy and defence sources.

However, he emphasised that countries who try to avoid the penalties will face repercussions.

“I’ve come here in a friendly attitude to explain the mechanics of our penalties, the necessity of joining us, to express a common commitment, and to pursue common goals. And, absolutely, there are penalties for nations who deliberately try to avoid or backfill sanctions “He stated.

“We are quite concerned that all nations, particularly our friends and partners, do not devise measures to prop up the ruble and undermine the dollar-based financial system,” he added.

India is a member of the so-called Quad alliance, which includes the United States, Japan, and Australia and is viewed as a bulwark against China.

Following the 2020 skirmish on the China border, India sent massive amounts of military weaponry to the border, the majority of which was Russian-made.