This visit is being viewed as important, as despite the tradition and historic ties India has with Russia, there is a growing proximity between Russia and China. In the recently concluded Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan, that PM Modi did not attend in person, President Putin described relations with China as ‘the best in history’.Notwithstanding the proximity between Russia and China, India is doing its bit to fortify its existing partnership. PM Modi reiterated the same before leaving for Russia.”The Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia has advanced over the past ten years including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people to people exchanges,” Modi added on Monday.Amongst the announcements likely to be made is a long-term uranium supply deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.Meanwhile, despite India looking at other markets to purchase military hardware, even now nearly one-third of India’s defence imports come from Moscow. This is down from two-thirds a few years back, but that is primarily due to Russia’s inability to supply spares since the conflict with Ukraine. However, bilateral energy trade has improved as India increased its imports from Russia as it was getting it on huge discounts. Russia’s exports to India are valued at $60 billion while India’s exports are around $4 billion.”Trade imbalance is a matter of priority and will be taken up in our discussions with the Russian side,” Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Friday. India wants to export farm products, technology, pharmaceuticals and services to lower the deficit.Meanwhile, PM Modi had also travelled to Moscow with former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2001 and he signed a protocol pact for cooperation between his home state of Gujarat and Russian province of Astrakhan.
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