Why is India both buying cheap oil from Russia and making good friends with the US?

Russian President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Modi during their meeting in December 2021 – Photo: CNN

US – India – China Relations

Just last month, the White House expressed “disappointment” when India not only refuses to condemn Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, but also buys cheap Russian oil.

However, when US President Joe Biden met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April, both sides said about “deep bonds” and “common values,” according to CNN.

Then, last weekend, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson flew to New Delhi to talk about trade relations with India. However, New Delhi’s stance on Ukraine remains the same and it continues to buy cheap oil from Russia. According to Reuters, in fact, India bought more oil from Russia in the first months of 2022 than in the whole of 2021.

India and China both take neutral positions, calling for peace and refusing to condemn Russia’s military campaign. But why should the US and its allies criticize China without raising tensions with India?

There are many reasons why the West is silent about India. According to CNN, one of the reasons is India India is important to US efforts to counter China’s rise. The US considers China a potential threat to world peace, even greater than Russia.

In addition, both India and the US are concerned by China’s growing military power, Beijing’s territorial claims on land and sea, as well as growing economic influence. of the country relative to its smaller neighbours.

US – India – Russia relations

Both India and China have a strategic relationship with Russia. For India, it is dependence on Russian weapons.

As early as the 1970s, India began to lean towards the Soviet Union when the United States began providing military and financial support to neighboring Pakistan.

This was the time when Russia started supplying weapons to India and New Delhi is still heavily dependent on Russia for military equipment to this day.

In 2018, India signed a $5 billion arms deal with Russia for an air defense missile system, despite the deal risking violating US sanctions imposed on Iran and Russia. and Korea.

Besides, Moscow is still interested and still wants to sell cheap oil to India.

While, The relationship between India and the US has grown closer since Mr. Modi was elected prime minister in 2014. Annual trade between India and the US is more than 110 billion USD. In recent years, India has also become a major customer for US military equipment.

With ties to both the US and Russia, India has managed to make an impressive balancing act.