India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visits Moscow

Above: Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin (R) greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) during their bilateral meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace, on July 9, 2024 in Moscow, Russia. Image copyright: Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Russia, which concluded on Tuesday, the Kremlin said the two countries inked 15 bilateral agreements that will deepen ties and cooperation in various areas.

  • While Russia's relationship with India dates back to the Cold War, Modi's first visit to Moscow since the war in Ukraine was closely watched by the US, which has fostered closer ties with New Delhi in recent years, and Putin's ally China, which reportedly has had a rocky relationship with India.


The Spin

Anti-Russia narrative

While Modi has called for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, he continues to buy cheap Russian oil and has abstained from all UN resolutions condemning Russia's invasion. There was never any realistic prospect that Modi would be able to temper Putin's criminal designs on Ukraine.

Pro-Russia narrative

Russia's enduring relationship with India, China, and several other major economies shows that the West's attempts to isolate Putin have largely failed. In fact, Russia seems to be in a much stronger place than when the Ukraine invasion started.


Metaculus Prediction



Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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