Russia in Global Affairs

India views democracy as a positive value but without a messianic zeal for its promotion, it would not hesitate to engage with the idea as long as it promotes its strategic interests - especially vis-a-vis China. It does not believe in dividing the world based on democracies vs autocracies, given the high level of engagement it has with several non-democratic regimes, but is willing to see the idea as forming part of a broader agenda setting.

Relations between the US and Russia are at their worst since the end of the Cold War, China and the US have tense relations, India and China are trying to stabilize relations after a period of acrimony. The major powers appear today to be like the unhappy families in Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina: ‘Each unhappy family (major power in this case) is unhappy in its own way.’

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi arrived in St. Petersburg on June 1 to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Leaders of the two countries will discuss steps to build up mutual trade, expand cultural and humanitarian cooperation