Washington back to its old India ways?
Modi and Vladimir Putin. America is deep in the throes of election politics — Donald Trump's escape from near-death, Joe Biden's exit and Kamala Harris' entry into the presidential race are dominating the headlines. Tempers have calmed somewhat but all is not well in the realm.
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Washington remains angry with the timing and optics of Modi's visit. India went to Russia when Nato came to America to show unity against Putin. Moscow's message to Nato was a hospital attack while Modi was on Russian soil. The date, the attack and the extra hospitality for Modi was Kremlin Craft at work to cause maximum diplomatic strain.
A barrage of biting US comments followed, with NSA Jake Sullivan going so far as to declare that Russia would 'side with China over India any day of the week'. The Americans seem convinced as do some Indian analysts, but GoI is not and may never be in the manner that Washington desires. Compare it to America's abiding relations with Pakistan. Indian diplomacy will continue to try to make room in Moscow if only to keep hope alive. It ultimately should be in the US interest to have an open channel to Russia. But one-dimensional views of DC's Russia hawks and the need to sound values-based take precedence.
Republicans and Dems on Capitol Hill were also unhappy. 'The hits [from India] keep on coming,' said one, calling the episode a setback
