Political Analyst Says US Will Have To Accept the Fact that India Will Continue To Cooperate with Russia*

*Editor’s Note: On March 4, Russia enacted a law that criminalizes public opposition to, or independent news reporting about, the war in Ukraine. The law makes it a crime to call the war a “war” rather than a “special military operation” on social media or in a news article or broadcast. The law is understood to penalize any language that “discredits” Russia’s use of its military in Ukraine, calls for sanctions or protests Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It punishes anyone found to spread “false information” about the invasion with up to 15 years in prison.

Washington is currently trying to persuade other countries to distance themselves from Russia, even though the two most populous countries, China and India, have already made it clear to the U.S. that they cannot allow it to influence their independent positions on the situation in Ukraine.

This is what political analyst Maksim Zharov said on Radio Sputnik, commenting on the words of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Washington wants to become India's partner of choice.

As you may recall, U.S. and India have just held their fourth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on April 11, during which Blinken said that Russia had already seized the opportunity to establish extensive cooperation with New Delhi before the U.S. was able to establish a strategic partnership with India.

"India's relationship with Russia was developed over decades at a time when the U.S. was not able to be a partner to India. Times have changed. Today, we are able and willing to be a partner of choice with India across virtually every realm: commerce, technology, education and security," Blinken told reporters.

Zharov noted that the U.S. is currently trying to persuade other countries to limit their contacts with Russia so that they can reduce their dependence on Russian weapons, oil and natural gas imports.

"Blinken's statement indicates that the White House regrets that such major countries as India and China are refusing to obey the Americans. I believe the U.S. will continue its efforts to persuade India and China to isolate Russia, even though they have already made it clear that their position on the Ukrainian conflict remains unchanged. This is why the Americans will have no other choice but to accept this reality," Zharov concluded.

Earlier, during his visit to the U.S., Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that Indian-Russian relations are very stable. According to him, India and Russia are natural allies. That being said, Singh also noted that India will be careful to ensure that its relations with other countries do not harm American national interests.