Right after his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched base with Russian president Vladmir Putin as New Delhi braces for deeper engagement with Moscow and Beijing later this month at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
The phone call was initiated by Modi, an indication of how smartly he shuffles his diplomatic cards amid the chorus of a ‘new symphony’ in the Indo-US ties.
Though there is no official confirmation yet, Modi is likely to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tashkent in Uzbekistan where India would formally be drafted into the grouping as a fuller member along with Pakistan.
Till now, India and Pakistan have been observer members of the Eurasian alliance of nations.
The symbolism on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation cannot be lost as this regional security grouping is seen as a counter to the US-led military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit that comprises among others Russia and China will be held on June 23 and 24.
“Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian side’s initiative,” Kremlin said in a statement about the phone call timed on the eve of Russian National Day.
{{/usCountry}}“Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian side’s initiative,” Kremlin said in a statement about the phone call timed on the eve of Russian National Day.
{{/usCountry}}“The discussion focused on practical issues of the two countries’ cooperation, including preparations for the top-level contacts to be held shortly,” the statement said. The two leaders also reaffirmed their determination to “further bilateral relations”, termed as “privileged strategic partnership”.