Biden sends his Russia sanctions czar to India — Analysis
Indian counterparts will be able to hear from a senior member of the national security team about the conflict in Ukraine and how it affects world trade.
A US national security official will travel to India to discuss New Delhi’s response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the White House said, noting that the two sides would also review their economic ties as Washington pressures allies to take tougher action against Moscow.
Daleep Singh, the Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics will be visiting India’s capital next week to meet officials. “advance a range of issues in the US-India economic relationship and strategic partnership,”Emily Horne, spokesperson for the National Security Council, announced Tuesday.
“Singh will consult closely with counterparts on the consequences of Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine and mitigating its impact on the global economy,”Horne added that Horne believed the adviser could also talk about the “development of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.”
Formerly of Goldman SachsAnd a veteran of two previous administrations, Singh has played a leading role in crafting US economic measures against Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine, with multiple media dubbing him the “architect” and “czar”Anti-Russian Sanctions
As the United States and its major allies pressure India to participate in a campaign of punitive sanctions against Moscow, New Delhi hosts these meetings. However, India has so far refused to agree to the sanctions. It even declined to cast a vote condemning the attack at United Nations headquarters and agreed to purchase Russian oil for a reduced price in March. Indian officials have called to an end the fighting in Ukraine. They also urged for peace and the resolution of the conflict. But, Russia continues to insist on harsher sanctions.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is also scheduled to visit India this Thursday. She plans to meet with Indian officials and discuss the future. “bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest”Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indian FM. Her previous calls were to establish a “closer economic and defense relationship”India she claims has “some level of dependence on Russia.”
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US brands India’s response to Ukraine war ‘unsatisfactory’
According to the Hindustan Times, Sergey Lavrov, Russian foreign minister is set to meet his Indian counterpart in late February after a two day stop in China. China, like India, has taken a neutral position on the conflict in Ukraine. It declined to condemn Russia, but called for both parties to cease fighting.
Joe Biden, the US president has said that New Delhi is being “somewhat shaky” in its response to Russia – instead praising the “extremely strong” reactions of other allies such as Japan and Australia – while the UK’s Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said London is “very disappointed” by India’s unwillingness to impose sanctions.
Since 1947 when India gained independence, it has advocated neutrality. It maintained ties with the West and the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War. In the years since then, India has also kept friendly relations with Russia. India has a particularly close partnership with Moscow in the military sphere, as it is Russia’s top weapons customer, though also regularly cooperates with the US and other Western nations in joint military drills.
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