WASHINGTON: US media outlets cast Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in New Delhi as a pivotal moment in India’s foreign policy calculus, with coverage centring on the Modi government’s attempt to preserve its deep strategic partnership with Moscow while navigating acute pressure from Washington.
The Washington Post described the visit as presenting PM Modi with a “delicate diplomatic challenge, ” reporting that he must keep faith with Russia “without riling President Donald Trump, ” who has penalised India for buying Russian crude and “fueling its ‘war machine’ in Ukraine.”
The Post reported that India’s refiners have already begun reducing purchases of Russian oil as US and European sanctions tighten, a shift analysts called a “significant blow” to Moscow’s wartime finances.
The New York Times highlighted the symbolism of PM Modi personally receiving Putin on the tarmac, calling it a gesture meant to underscore “the strong personal rapport” between the two leaders despite a fraught geopolitical moment.