At a time when the ties between India and the United States took a dramatic nosedive over President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has arrived in Moscow on a two-day state visit.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is also scheduled to visit Moscow later this month.
The NSA’s visit coincides with that of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who will also arrive in Moscow on Wednesday to meet with the Russian leadership.
Although the agenda of Doval’s visit will focus on defence cooperation between the two countries, the current escalation of the geopolitical situation will also be discussed, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.
“Apart from that, the topics will include such pressing matters as supplies of Russian oil [to India]," it said, quoting a source.
Trump on Tuesday repeated his accusation that New Delhi was fuelling the war machine by importing oil from Russia and further threatened India with punitive tariffs. The US president has already announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
India has rejected Trump’s tariff threats as “unjustified and unreasonable” and asserted that New Delhi would take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
According to Reuters, between January and June, India purchased 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian seaborne crude, the highest of any foreign buyer.
Although it is unclear whether Doval and Witkoff will meet in Moscow, their simultaneous trips to Russia have sparked speculation amid the evolving geopolitical situation.
Witkoff’s visit is understood to be an attempt to secure an elusive ceasefire deal with Ukraine before the deadline set by Trump ends. Last month, Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening sanctions and tariffs if the Kremlin failed to agree to a ceasefire.
Trump also threatened secondary sanctions on top customers for Russian energy exports like China and India.