How foreign media is reacting to Putin's India visit: 'Modi will have to walk a tightrope...'

After he lands in India, Putin will be hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s India visit is being watched closely across the world for many reasons – one, it is his first visit since Ukraine’s invasion and second, it comes amid a sharp downturn in India’s relations with the US, triggered by Washington’s imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, which includes 25 per cent levies for New Delhi’s procurement of Russian crude oil.

His visit, which will begin with a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being monitored closely by global media, covering different aspects of what it could entail.

How global media is covering Putin’s India visit?

The New York Times, in a report, said that the timing of Putin’s visit is “especially fraught for India, which has been searching for a way to resolve its economic tangle with the Trump administration.”

Modi has avoided condemning Russia for the fighting in Ukraine while emphasising the need for a peaceful settlement.

“…Mr. Modi, who shares a warm personal bond with Mr. Putin, will have to walk a tightrope between managing India’s relationship with Russia, its biggest arms supplier, while satisfying the demands of the United States, its biggest trading partner — all while pursuing his country’s self-interest,” the report said.

“When Vladimir Putin’s plane touches down in New Delhi on Thursday, he will be met with the pomp and ceremony reserved for one of India’s most steadfast partners. Yet his host, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is simultaneously attempting to maintain a deep strategic relationship with a key global rival: the United States,” a CNN report said.

“This is India’s diplomatic split screen. On one side: the potential purchase of advanced Russian fighter jets, cheap oil, and an ironclad friendship forged in the Cold War. On the other: American collaboration on technology, trade and investment – and the hope President Donald Trump will lift his punishing tariffs,” it added.

Putin's visit assumes more significance for Modi than ever before because it will test India's geopolitical autonomy, BBC reported, adding that “he will be walking the proverbial diplomatic tightrope here”.

“Modi would want to show Indians at home and in the wider world that he still counts Putin as his ally and hasn't given into pressure from Trump, whom he has earlier called his "true friend",” the report mentioned.

India and Russia will look at bolstering their bilateral relationship and are expected to deliver a package of documents centered around economic cooperation, trade facilitation, maritime, healthcare and media exchanges, Indian officials involved in the summit’s preparation told Associated Press.

Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an international affairs expert at the Jindal School of International Affairs near New Delhi, told AP that India has avoided taking on an overt mediating role because it could complicate its ties with both Russia and the US.

“But behind-the-scenes diplomacy by Modi is feasible, and has happened already to some extent,” Chaulia said.

Modi could try to nudge Putin “to accommodate some Ukrainian and European concerns to bring about a cessation of hostilities,” he added.

PM Modi to host Putin for private dinner

After he lands in India, Putin will be hosted by PM Modi for a private dinner in reciprocation of a similar gesture extended to the Indian prime minister by the Russian leader during his visit to Moscow in July last year.

On Friday, Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome before the 23rd India-Russia summit. Modi will also host a working lunch for the Russian leader and his delegation at Hyderabad House, the venue for the summit. Putin will also visit Rajghat in the morning, people familiar with the matter told news agency PTI.