Washington: America has again reacted on India-Russia relations. US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan has said that there is no concrete evidence that India is strengthening military and technology ties with Russia. Sullivan said that Russia, which has become an ‘ally’ for China, may not necessarily be India’s ‘reliable friend’ in the future. Sullivan made this comment on questions asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Russia for bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sullivan was answering questions at the ‘Aspen Security Forum’ in Colorado.
‘No concrete evidence found’
The US NSA said, “The biggest question is, have we found concrete evidence that India is deepening its military and technology ties with Russia? I have not seen concrete evidence in that visit that this relationship is deepening, I have not seen any results in that area. Sullivan was asked, “Were you concerned when Prime Minister Modi met President Putin, while this meeting took place at the same time when President Joe Biden was hosting NATO leaders in Washington?”
‘India has a historical relationship with Russia’
When asked about Putin and Modi’s warm embrace, Sullivan said, “Prime Minister Modi has a special way of greeting world leaders. I have seen it up close and personal.” He also said that the Joe Biden administration never wants the countries that America cares about, who are its partners and friends, to go to Moscow and hug Putin. Sullivan said, “But in terms of our relationship with India, you know, we see immense opportunities in technology, economics and the geopolitics of the broader Indo-Pacific region.” He said, “We want to deepen that relationship on the basis of equality. We know that India has a historic relationship with Russia that they are not going to end.”
‘China-Russia relations are deepening’
Sullivan said, “But we want to continue to have a deep dialogue with India about the nature and characteristics of this relationship and whether this relationship will grow as Russia becomes closer to China.” He said, “Being a close partner of China, it is not necessary that Russia will prove to be a reliable friend for India in case of any emergency or crisis in the future.”
