South China Morning Post
- Since the start of the Ukraine crisis, Russia has been getting closer to China. Yet now Moscow is selling India weapons likely to be pointed in Beijingâs direction
- The US, too, will feel aggrieved, as such deals will make it hard for it to ask New Delhi to join in sanctions against Moscow for its actions in the Crimea
India and Russiaâs historically close relationship has been complicated by geopolitical realities but last weekâs summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin demonstrated the extent to which both sides intend to stay close, even if it risks rankling the United States and China.
Harsha Kakar, a retired major general in the Indian army, said the meeting proved that despite Russiaâs close ties with China, and Indiaâs with the West, and âregardless of whatever alignments the countries may be part of, a relationship that has been built up over the years should not be eroded due to geopolitical changesâ.