Russia and India agree on multipolarity: PM Modi

India and Russia on Friday made a strong pitch to create multipolarity in geo-politics amid current flux with two sides affirming non-interference as universally acknowledged norms of international law and PM Narendra Modi emphasising on multilateralism that has been under threat following certain moves by the current USA administration.

Modi and visiting Russian president who spent hours with each other on Thursday and Friday signalled that Delhi and Moscow are pillars of stability in current tumultuous geo-politics and geo-economics that has been hit by US decision to pull out of Iranian nuclear deal and Sino-US trade war.

ET has learnt that Modi and Putin spent three hours with each other on Thursday night followed by 90 minutes on Friday morning. In a subtle message to the Trump administration, the two sides made it clear that they stand for strengthening of open, inclusive, transparent, non-discriminatory and rules-based multilateral trade system and prevention of fragmentation of international trade relations and trade protectionism in all forms.


In reference to this while addressing a joint press meet following the Summit, Modi said, “Russia has always stood by India's development…Russia and India agree on multipolarity and multilateralism in the world.”

The Iranian issue besides Afghan situation, Syrian theatre and cross-border terror were among the key agenda points in the Summit. ET has learnt that Putin assured Modi that Russia could increase oil production if Iranian oil exports decline drastically after November 4. This could infer that India would increase oil imports from Russia.

Modi and Putin underlined the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear programme in order to support international peace and security, to strengthen non-proliferation regime and to develop normal economic cooperation with Iran.

Counter-terror partnership in Af-Pak region and worldwide besides cooperation to stabilise Afghanistan by fighting Pak-sponsored terror were also among the key takeaways from the 19th annual summit dismissing rumours that Delhi and Moscow have divergences on the Afghan issue.

“The Sides denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterated the need to combat international terrorism with decisive and collective response without any double standards. The Sides agreed to converge their efforts to eradicate terrorist networks, their sources of financing, arms and fighters supply channels, to counter terrorist ideology, propaganda and recruitment. The Sides condemned all kinds of state support to terrorists including cross border terrorism and providing safe havens to terrorists and their network,” the Joint statement said in unequivocal terms.

“Recognizing the importance of adopting the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, pending in the United Nations, to become part of the international law, both Sides called upon the international community to make sincere efforts towards its early conclusion. ?? address the threats of chemical and biological terrorism, the Sides supported and emphasized the need for launching multilateral negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament on an international convention for the suppression of acts of chemical and biological terrorism,” the Joint Statement further noted.

In an indirect reference to Pak-sponsored terror in Afghanistan, India and Russia called upon the international community to join efforts to thwart any external interference in Afghanistan, to restore its economy, contribute to sustaining peace and security, economic and political development of a stable, secure, united, prosperous and independent Afghanistan. The two Sides will direct their activity to launch joint development and capacity building projects in Afghanistan.

Further in what can be viewed as subtle messages to a section of the western world in the context of efforts to undermine UN, the Indo-Russian joint statement stated, “The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of international law and the centrality of the United Nations in international relations. Both Sides share the view that implementation in good faith of generally recognized principles and rules of international law excludes the practice of double standards or imposition by some States of their will on other States, and consider that imposition of unilateral coercive measures not based on international law, is an example of such practice. Both Sides would continue to work together to promote a democratic world order based on global and shared interests.”

Indo-Pacific has been area of emerging cooperation between the two sides. At Friday’s summit Delhi and Moscow also supported the idea of the establishment of Regional Security Architecture that provides equal and indivisible security to all countries in Asia and in the regions of Pacific and Indian Oceans. The sides emphasised the importance of the continuation of the multilateral dialogue on this theme within the framework of the East Asia Summits and other regional fora.

India welcomed the initiative of Russia to create a Larger Eurasian Partnership in the backdrop of India’s SCO membership.

There was subtle message for China and its BRI as well in the joint statement. “Both Sides agreed that all new initiatives aimed at strengthening of the regional order are to be based on multilateralism, principles of transparency, inclusiveness, mutual respect and unity in the common pursuit of progress and prosperity and not directed against any country. In this regard, the Sides welcomed the constructive consultations held at Moscow on 24 August 2018 between Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov and Foreign Secretary of the Republic of India Vijay Gokhale,” according to the joint statement.

Meanwhile, Delhi and Moscow reaffirmed the commitment of India and Russia for a political resolution of the conflict in Syria, through an inclusive Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political process which safeguards the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria in pursuance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015).