NSA Doval likely to arrive in Moscow today amid straining ties with US: Report

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval

India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval is expected to arrive in Russia on August 5 for crucial meeting to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two nations, a report by the Times of India said.

The high-level meeting comes amid escalating tensions between India and the US after President Donald Trump targeted New Delhi for its oil and military purchases from Moscow.

The report said the meeting was already planned but the recent spat with Washington has put the visit under the spotlight. Earlier, the Economic Times had reported that external affairs minister S Jaishankar was also expected to visit Russia in August.

Trump has accused India of “profiting” from “massive amounts of Russian oil” despite people being killed in Ukraine by the “Russian war machine”.

New Delhi, in a rare rebuttal, said the criticism was “unjustified and unreasonable”, and showed the double standards of the West, who themselves are engaged in trade with Moscow. “India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement concluded,” the ministry of external affairs said.