(Washington) Joe Biden and Narendra Modi had a “frank” virtual exchange on Monday, but which does not seem to have reconciled positions on the war in Ukraine, a subject that destabilizes the relationship between India and the United States.
Posted at 2:00 p.m.
A senior White House official said the two men had a discussion that lasted about an hour, “warm” but above all “frank” – this adjective, which in diplomatic language conveys a certain tension, has been used several times. times during his exchange with journalists.
“India makes its own decisions”, she only commented, in response to questions about India’s purchases of Russian energy, or the fact that New Delhi did not join the votes. condemning Moscow at the United Nations.
“We don’t think India should accelerate or increase its purchases of Russian energy”, which for the time being only represent a very small part of its total imports, however warned the senior official.
The two great powers will “continue their close consultation”, said this source, who did not wish to be quoted.
At the start of the meeting, the American president praised the “deep connection” between the two countries and also expressed his desire to “continue [les] close consultations” on Ukraine, in front of a large screen on which appeared the Indian Prime Minister.
The latter described the situation in Ukraine as “very worrying”, and recalled that India supported the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Joe Biden, speaking from the White House, was seated at a large conference table, surrounded by the two countries’ defense and foreign secretaries, who are holding their own meeting on Monday.
PHOTO MANDEL NGAN, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Joe Biden was accompanied by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (right) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (center).
The Biden administration, which wants to consolidate American alliances in the Asia-Pacific zone to deal with China, and in particular relaunch the so-called “Quad” format (United States, India, Australia and Japan), is for the less embarrassed by New Delhi’s positioning since the start of the war in Ukraine.
New Delhi calls Moscow a “key pillar” of Indian foreign policy because of its “strategic partnership” for its national security.
Russian weapons
New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties since the Cold War, and Russia remains India’s biggest arms supplier.
Besides oil and arms, India imports fertilizers and rough diamonds from Russia. It exports pharmaceutical products, tea and coffee there.
The White House, well aware of India’s dependence on Russia in military matters, nevertheless intends to maintain a close dialogue with New Delhi.
She had recently dispatched one of Joe Biden’s top security advisers, Daleep Singh, to the Indian capital.
This visit moreover almost coincided with that of the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, who went to New Delhi to praise India’s balanced approach, according to him, in the face of the war in Ukraine.
On the American side, efforts are being made to convince India that betting on Russia will eventually weaken it against China, whose affirmation in the Asia-Pacific worries both Washington and New Delhi.
The last clash between Chinese and Indian soldiers on the line of control, on the border of Tibet and the Indian region of Ladakh, dates only from June 2020.
And last Thursday, India claimed to have thwarted a cyberattack launched by Chinese hackers against its power grid.