Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia is very small, but its importance is equally large. This is also special because it is happening at a time whenPakistan is continuously accusing India on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. However, Russia has already clarified its stand on this issue and said that India's decision on Jammu and Kashmir is completely internal and there is no need to interfere with any other country. Let us tell you here that PM Modi has arrived there this time to attend the meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). During this visit, the emphasis of both countries will be on civil nuclear corporations. Apart from this, it is also being said that around 25 agreements can be signed during this period. These include defense, trade, investment, energy sectors.
As far as PM Modi's visit to Russia is concerned, let us tell you that since 2014, PM Modi has visited Russia four times. He first went to attend the BRICS conference held in Ufa in July 2015. After this, he also visited Russia in December this year. In May-June 2017, PM Modi and President Vladimir Putin met during the Indo-Russian Conference in St. Pittsburgh. In May 2018, the two leaders met once again in Sochi. This will be the fifth meeting of Russia on earth in this way. As far as the meeting of the two leaders is concerned, in June this year, the two leaders met at the SCO conference in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.
As far as the importance of the current visit is concerned, this visit is also very special because it has two important announcements which will give a new direction to the relations between India and Russia. Under this, both countries will set the agenda for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector for the next five years. Also, a cooperation letter will be signed to meet the shortage of trained professionals in Russia from India. The significance of this visit is also very special because recently Russia has said that India has made an advance payment of missile system S400. Here it becomes very important to tell that India is ignoring the threats of America and making this deal with Russia. Therefore, PM Modi has taken many things together from his visit.
Foreign and defense experts are also considering PM Modi as very special. Professor Harsh V Pant of Observer Research Foundation says that Russia has always supported India on many issues including Jammu and Kashmir. Secondly, here it is also special because till some time ago, the way Russia was growing closer with China and Pakistan and the concern that India had about it has almost come to an end. Russia has also given a clear indication of this by openly supporting India on Jammu and Kashmir. In UNSC too, China and Pakistan had to be defeated due to Russia.
As far as the defense sector is concerned, India has already made its stand very clear about the S400. As far as the US is concerned, because the US wants Russia to join the G7 again, it will not impose any kind of restriction on India after saying that India is buying missile system from it. On doing this, he himself will also come under the question. However, Professor Pant also believes that because the technology is no longer as developed by Russia as it is with the West, India's future inclination will be more towards the West to compensate the region. According to him, during the decade, Russia has lagged behind in the field of technology and the West has very new technology available.
