Unlike the US and its allies, Russia has never supported anti-India rhetoric on its soil, and that is what makes New Delhi's ties with Moscow stand out in the present geopolitical context, a strategic affairs expert has said in a conversation with Sputnik India.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) J.S. Sodhi's remarks came minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined the strength and the historic nature of the India-Russia relationship during a diaspora event in Moscow on Tuesday.
"The first thing that comes to mind after hearing the word Russia is partner in pain and gain," Modi stated in his address to the Indian community in the Russian capital.
Prime Minister noted that India-Russia friendship, despite Russian winter's lower temperature scale, is full of warmth. He emphasised that the two countries bond is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect.
India Can 'Blindly' Trust Russia
According to an international relations expert and a former Indian Army veteran Sodhi, Modi's comments on the India-Russia friendship assume immense significance as both nations have a strong and trusted bilateral relationship.
"For instance, Russia and the erstwhile USSR have never allowed their soil to be used for anti-India activities unlike the US and the West. Also, Russia has always been forthcoming in the Transfer of Technology for weapon systems to India, unlike America and the West. If there is one country India can blindly trust and rely upon, it is only Russia," Sodhi told Sputnik India.
The pundit suggested that the US-led West was unhappy and uneasy with India's close relations with Russia as it sees its exports to India shrinking, as Russia has traditionally been India’s largest arm trading partner.
"Moreover, the growing anti-India rhetoric in the USA and the West is making India realize that true friends will never permit the use of their soil for such activities, like Russia," Sodhi emphasized.
He reckoned that strong and closer India-Russia friendship would help lower the ever-rising temperatures between China & Pakistan, and India.
The former Indian Army officer noted that the fact that Modi has chosen Russia as the first country to visit for a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin in his third term clearly spells out the trust and faith that India has in Russia.
Indian PM's Visit to Russia 'Purely Bilateral'
Meanwhile, one must not forget that ahead of Modi's departure to Russia, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra had described his visit to the Eurasian state as "purely bilateral".
Furthermore, he dismissed comparisons of Modi's bilateral talks with President Putin to the NATO summit being held on July 9 in the US.
"With regard to the scheduling of the Prime Minister's visit to Russia, we look at our relationship with Russia purely from a framework of reference of bilateral relationships," Kwatra said during a media briefing in New Delhi. "We attach great importance to this Annual summit. It is now taking place after three years, and there is a significant amount of agenda issues to be taken up by the two leaders to give them new direction, drive and momentum."