pm-modi-set-to-visit-russia-and-austria-from-july-8-to-10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Russia and Austria from July 8 to 10. His visit to Russia, scheduled for July 8 and 9, will involve attending the 22nd India-Russia annual summit.

 

This summit aims to review the extensive and multifaceted ties between the two countries. Following his Russia trip, Modi will travel to Austria, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 41 years.

 

Modi's visit to Russia will be his first in nearly five years, with his last visit being in 2019 for an economic conclave in Vladivostok. The India-Russia annual summit, which alternates between India and Russia, is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two nations.

 

The last summit was held on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi, where President Vladimir Putin attended. That summit resulted in 28 MoUs and agreements and a joint statement titled "India-Russia Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity."

 

The upcoming summit is expected to address a wide range of topics, reflecting the strong and enduring relationship between the two countries. Modi and Putin last met on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022.

 

During that meeting, Modi urged Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine, stating, "today's era is not of war." Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has had several telephonic conversations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

 

India has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, maintaining a stance that the crisis should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. Despite Western disquiet and a G7-imposed price cap, India's import of Russian crude oil has significantly increased.

 

In December 2022, the G7 and its allies announced a cap on the price of Russian oil at USD 60 a barrel as part of punitive measures against Moscow.

 

Following his Russia visit, Modi will travel to Austria on July 9 and 10. This visit will be significant as it will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over four decades. In Austria, Modi will meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

 

They are expected to address business leaders from both India and Austria, highlighting the importance of strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

 

Modi will also engage with the Indian community in Moscow and Vienna, emphasising the importance of the Indian diaspora in fostering international relations.

 

The visits are expected to bolster India's diplomatic and economic relations with both Russia and Austria, showcasing India's commitment to maintaining strong international partnerships amidst global challenges.