Friday, December 26, 2025

Sergio Gor-erstwhile ‘USSR’ connection and has Trump ‘hyphenated’ India with Pakistan again

By
Vibha Sharma
-

Gor’s appointment to New Delhi comes at a time when India and the US are going through a bad patch, and many believe he will make an excellent representative of America given his close access to Trump; But lack of deep knowledge about India, its policy matters and his young age may be an issue. Besides, his broader mandate as a special envoy for South and Central Asia affairs “potentially hyphenates India with Pakistan,” say analysts

Phoro: courtesy Gor’s social media

 Incidentally, the original last name of Sergio Gor was Gorokhovsky, that is before it got shortened when he and his parents migrated to the US. Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan—a part of the erstwhile USSR—Gor emigrated to the US with his parents in 1999 when he was around 12, according to reports

Amid ongoing tariff tensions between Washington and New Delhi, US President Donald Trump on Saturday nominated close aide Sergio Gor as the new Ambassador of India.

He is currently the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office.

Who is Sergie Gor

Just around 38 years old, Gor has no previous known connection/work/ scholarship related to India. His father Yuri Gorokhovsky was reportedly an aviation engineer who worked on aircraft designs for the Soviet military, according to reports

“Sergey Gorokhovsky was born on November 30, 1986, in Tashkent, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union.

“The Gorokhovskys moved to Malta by 1994, when his mother established a business and registered as an Israeli national.

“The Gorokhovskys emigrated from Cospicua in 1999.

“He attended high school in Los Angeles and graduated from George Washington University,” as per reports

While in George Washington University, he was said to be active in conservative, Republican circles before joining Senator Rand Paul as a staffer and rising in political circles. His association with Trump began around the 2020 elections. He was named Director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel after Trump won in November 2024.

His influence with Trump also earned him adversaries. Billionaire businessman Elon Musk called Gor a “snake” after one of his recommendations were spiked by Trump on Gor’s advice

India hyphenated with Pakistan?

Gor’s appointment to New Delhi comes at a time when India and the US are going through a bad patch, and many believe he will make an excellent representative of America given his close access to Trump.

But lack of deep knowledge about India, its policy matters and his young age may be an issue.

Besides, his broader mandate as a special envoy for South and Central Asia affairs “potentially hyphenates India with Pakistan,” say analysts

Loyalty to Trump is unquestionable

Gor on Saturday said he was “beyond grateful” to President Donald Trump for his nomination as the US ambassador to India.

However, Gor will also be Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, expanding his role in the region.

“Beyond grateful to @realDonaldTrump for his incredible trust and confidence in nominating me to be his next U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs! Nothing has made me prouder than to serve the American people through the GREAT work of this Administration! Our White House has achieved historic results in MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!  It will be the honor of my life to represent the United States!” he wrote on X

He will fill the vacancy in New Delhi that has remained since January, when former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti was recalled after Trump assumed office in Washington, DC.

Announcing the appointment Trump wrote on Truth Social: “For the most populous region in the world, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my agenda and help us ‘make America great again’. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!”

Referring to Gor as a “great friend”, who has been at his side for many years, the US President added: “Gor worked on my historic presidential campaigns and published my best-selling books”.

Trump said that in his current role as Director of Presidential Personnel, Gor has hired nearly 4,000 “America First patriots” across every department of the federal government.

Gor’s role has been essential in delivering on the unprecedented mandate received from the American people, he also said. 

Gor will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation by the Senate.

Govt plans to identify 50 new tourist destinations to boost tourism, increase its share in global GDP

By
Priyanka Tanwer
-

The central government is planning to increase its contribution to the world Gross Domestic Production (GDP) from the tourism sector in the years to come, said union minister Gajendra Shekhwat.

During a media interaction at his residence, the minister said, “Indian tourism contributes 5.06 per cent to the entire world GDP and we are planning to take this contribution to 10 per cent in the years to come.”  

He also emphasized on increasing the number of hotel rooms in the country, especially on the tourist destinations to boost the sector. He said, “Expanding hospitality is the fastest route to generate employment. A hotel has at least 10 employees and a huge 13.8 per cent employment comes from the tourism sector.”

He said that building a quality hotel is a high cost matter and the operating cost of the hotel is also high. “On an average the investment comes around to Rs 1-1.5 crore per room, and takes around three years to build, yet banks only give loans for six to seven years,” he said.  

“So, by the time the hotel is built, half the period is over. Then how will the hotel owner repay?” he said. To facilitate entrepreneurs and corporates, and not just contractors and politicians with money, his policy push is to treat much of hospitality investment as infrastructure.

The construction of three-plus star hotels in areas that are not metropolitan cities will attract an infrastructure status, which will allow for 20-25 year tenures and lower interest rates on loans.

Speaking on the increasing crowd at tourist destinations, he said that the government is planning to create new tourist destinations to decongest hotspots.

He disclosed that the government is in the process of identifying 50 new tourist destinations for development in the next budget.

“The ministry has floated this idea with the states and will organize the workshop next month in which all tourism ministers of the states will come up with the potential idea which they will present within 30 minutes. After this, the list of the destinations will be finalized,” he added.

Trump appoints Sergie Gor as US Ambassador to India, Gor says ‘beyond grateful’

By
Tehelka Bureau
-
Photo: courtesy Sergie Gor social media

White House personnel director Sergio Gor on Saturday said he was “beyond grateful” to President Donald Trump for nominating him as the US Ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.

“Beyond grateful to @realDonaldTrump for his incredible trust and confidence in nominating me to be his next U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs! Nothing has made me prouder than to serve the American people through the GREAT work of this Administration! Our White House has achieved historic results in MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!  It will be the honor of my life to represent the United States!” he wrote on X

Amid ongoing tariff tensions between Washington and New Delhi, Trump on Saturday nominated close aide Gor as the new Ambassador of India.

Gor is currently the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office.

He will fill the vacancy in New Delhi that has remained since January, when former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti was recalled after Trump assumed office in Washington, DC.

Announcing the appointment Trump wrote on Truth Social :“For the most populous region in the world, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my agenda and help us ‘make America great again’. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!”

Gor will also be Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, expanding his role in the region.

 Referring to Gor as a “great friend”, who has been at his side for many years, the US President added: “Gor worked on my historic presidential campaigns and published my best-selling books”.

Trump said that in his current role as Director of Presidential Personnel, Gor has hired nearly 4,000 “America First patriots” across every department of the federal government.

Gor’s role has been essential in delivering on the unprecedented mandate received from the American people, he also said . 

Gor will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation by the Senate.

Another cloudburst in Uttarakhand, many feared missing

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

Several people are feared missing after another cloudburst hit Uttarakhand on Friday.

The incident happened in Chamoli district when a mudslide struck Tharali market area at night, causing debris to sweep through homes and buildings.

According to officials, the Tharali market area and the Tharali tehsil complex were heavily covered by debris. Many residential areas, including the official residence of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), shops, and vehicles, were also buried under it.

“Indian Army has activated HADR columns, medical teams and Search & Rescue Dogs from Rudraprayag and Joshimath. Army detachment at Tharali already at ground zero, extending immediate rescue & relief. Additional troops & resources from #UBArea_IA are being mobilised and joint operations are currently underway with civil administration. #IndianArmy stands strong in the face of disaster, committed to saving lives & restoring normalcy,” the Central Command of the Indian Army said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he is closely monitoring the situation.

“Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone’s safety,” he wrote in a post on X.

Meanwhile the district administration Chamoli has forwarded a written requisition to the Army for assistance.

No street feeding—why is it not such a good idea for strays, animal lovers

By
Vibha Sharma
-

Creating a centralised feeding point for dogs over a large area, especially in urban neighbourhoods, may seem a good idea but is it so? Practically, it is not a very good idea but also impossible, besides it may even become a flash point between dog lovers and those who do not like them as much or have suffered at the hands of strays  

File Photo

The Supreme Court on Friday modified its August-11 directions, saying that sterilised and immunised strays may be released back into their areas. It, however, refused to stay the rounding up of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR for sending them to dog shelters with immediate effect. “Prohibition on release of strays shall be stayed. They shall be dewormed, vaccinated, etc, and sent back to the same area,” said a three-judge Bench.

According to an earlier order of a two-judge Bench, the authorities in Delhi and its suburbs were asked to move all stray dogs into shelters, expressing concern over the rising “menace of dog bites leading to rabies”, leading to widespread protests by animal welfare groups.

The three-judge Bench said that dogs with rabies or aggressive behaviour should be immunised and kept in shelters.

No feeding on streets

It also prohibited the feeding of stray dogs on streets. “Under no condition shall the feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted. The persons found feeding the dogs on the streets in contravention of the above directions shall be liable to be proceeded against under the relevant legal framework,” it said.

According to the top court there have been reports of untoward incidents caused by unregulated feeding of stray dogs. The order is being issued to ensure that the practice of feeding dogs on roads and in public places was eliminated as such practice created “great difficulties for the common man walking on the streets”.

Creating a centralised feeding point for dogs over a large area, especially in urban neighbourhoods, may seem a good idea but is it so?

Practically, it is not a very good idea but also impossible, besides it may even become a flash point between dog lovers and those who do not like them as much or have suffered at the hands of strays

 

Dogs are territorial, and there are other issues  

There are many reasons, for one, dogs are territorial animals. When food is concentrated in one location, dominant dogs may claim the spot, bully or attack others, leading to fights and injuries. Shy, injured, or smaller dogs may go hungry to avoid conflict.

The next question is will dogs from far parts of the area travel to a feeding point regularly, besides how will they know there exists such a point. There are also old, injured, or nursing strays.

Apart from the fact that centralisation creates inequality in access to food, there are sanitation and health hazards. A single feeding point will attract flies, rats, ants, diseases if not cleaned constantly. Leftover food can rot, who will remove that? And why would those living near the feeding points allow this? Will it not create further discord between dog lovers and those not so fond of them?

Overcrowding may lead to aggression, injuries and feeding points will attract complaints from residents, authorities, and become a nuisance in residential or commercial areas. In fact, many cities or municipalities have rules against public animal feeding in large groups or in open areas.

A better idea may be to feed strays in small groups in scattered locations, responsibly, therefore, at best the Supreme Court order is a respite. 

All-India weekly rainfall departure 22% above average this week; expect more rains, rough seas in coming week, says IMD  

By
Vibha Sharma
-

Reasons—Monsoon trough is running near its normal position; an upper air cyclonic circulation is prevailing over Gangetic west Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh; another upper air cyclonic circulation exists over southwest Uttar Pradesh and neighbourhood; and a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts around August 25

Image courtesy IMD

Intense to very intense convection is currently prevailing over many parts of the country—west Uttarakhand, south Haryana adjoining Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, east Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, south west Bihar, West Bengal and north Bay—the IMD today said predicting increase in rain activity over many parts of northwestern, western, central and eastern coastal states in the coming week     

Reasons

The Monsoon trough is running near its normal position; an upper air cyclonic circulation is there over Gangetic west Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh; another upper air cyclonic circulation exists over southwest Uttar Pradesh and neighbourhood; and a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts around August 25.

There has been a rapid revival of Monsoon from August 14 due to back-to-back Low Pressure System formation over Bay of Bengal and their west-northwest movements. The monsoon trough shifted to south and it was south of its normal position in most dates of the last week, resulting in active monsoon conditions over central and south peninsular India during the week.

The weekly cumulative rainfall over most of the meteorological subdivisions of central and south peninsular India was normal to above normal rainfall during the week ending August 20

All-India weekly rainfall departure was 22% above than the long period average.

Fishermen’ advisory

Fishermen are advised not to venture into several areas till August 27

In the Arabian Sea, they include along and off the Somalia, Oman coasts and adjoining sea areas; over some parts of central Arabian Sea, southwest, northeast Arabian Sea; over few parts of northwest Arabian Sea; along and off south Gujarat coasts; off Maharashtra coasts and Goa, Karnataka and north Kerala coasts.

In the Bay of Bengal, they include along and off Odisha, West Bengal and north Bay of Bengal till August 24 and some parts of west-central Bay on August 26.

Respite for animal lovers, SC says stray dogs to return to streets post sterilisation, vaccination

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

The Supreme Court on Friday modified its August-11 directions, saying that sterilised and immunised strays may be released back into their areas, bringing much cheer among dog lovers. “Prohibition on release of strays shall be stayed. They shall be dewormed, vaccinated, etc, and sent back to the same area,” said a three-judge Bench.

According to an earlier order of a two-judge Bench, the authorities in Delhi and its suburbs were asked to move all stray dogs into shelters, expressing concern over the rising “menace of dog bites leading to rabies”, leading to widespread protests by animal welfare groups.

The three-judge Bench, however, said that dogs with rabies or aggressive behaviour should be immunised and kept in shelters. The Bench also made it clear that the earlier order for rounding up strays will remain. It also disallowed public feeding of dogs saying that “dedicated feeding spaces of stray dogs” should be created as there have been instances due to such public feeding.

The top court also indicated a national policy on stray dogs after giving hearings to all the states. “The whole problem is because of the inaction of local authorities… Rules are framed, but no implementation carried out, creating a problem today. On one hand, humans are suffering, on the other hand animal lovers want dogs protected,” the Bench was quoted as saying

On August 11, the SC issued directions to permanently relocate all canines from streets to shelters “at the earliest”.

“This is the time to act. All these animal activists and all these so-called animal lovers…will they bring back all those children who have fallen prey to rabies? Will they put life back in those children? Let’s take a practical view of the matter. When the situation demands, you have to act,” it said, refusing to entertain intervention applications of animal rights activists.

The order sparked strong protests and legal challenges with animal welfare groups claiming that it was against existing rules that state that stray dogs should be released to their original site after being sterilised at shelters. Calling for humane solutions like vaccination and neutering, they warned that putting all strays in shelters may lead to problems like overcrowding and culling.

Following this, the top court set up a three-judge bench.

Bihar—Lalu says PM Modi in Gaya to do ‘pind daan’ of Nitish; PM says opposition rattled   

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

RJD, allies treating people of Bihar like a “vote bank”, illegal immigrants taking away jobs from Indian citizens, the PM said, alerting voters in poll-bound Bihar about rapid demographic changes along the state’s borders

Photo: courtesy PM social media

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Thursday witnessed an exchange of jibes and trading of charges between the two sides in poll-bound Bound.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav taunted PM Modi ahead of his visit to Gaya, saying that he was there to perform the ‘pind daan’ (a post-death ritual in Hindus) of Chief Minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar’s politics.

Sharing a video on X, the RJD chief wrote, “Prime Minister Modi ji is coming to Gaya today to perform the ‘pind daan’ of Nitish Kumar’s politics and his party,” and also demanded action against alleged “vote theft” and unemployment in Bihar.

PM Modi in turn accused the RJD and ally Congress of plotting to “snatch away people’s rights and give them to illegal immigrants” to expand their vote banks. He also accused opposition parties of opposing bills tabled in Lok Sabha to sack arrested PM, Chief Ministers and ministers out of fear, saying they are rattled because going to jail would shatter all their dreams.

PM in Bihar

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth around Rs 13,000 crore at Gayaji. Speaking at a public event, he said that the RJD and allies treated the people of Bihar like a “vote bank.”

He claimed that illegal immigrants were taking away jobs from Indian citizens, alerting voters in poll-bound Bihar about rapid demographic changes along the state’s borders. “For them (the RJD and its allies), the people of Bihar are only a vote bank, they have no concern for the struggles of the poor.

“You may recall how a Congress chief minister once said from a stage that Biharis would not be allowed to enter their state. Such is the Congress’s hatred towards the people of Bihar,” he said, adding that rapid development of the state is the NDA government’s big priority.

Taking another swipe at the RJD using its election symbol, the PM questioned “what was the plight here during the ‘lalten’(lantern)raj ? During the ‘lalten raj’, this region was in the grip of ‘red terror’. Due to the Maoists, it was difficult to travel anywhere after evening. Cities like Gayaji used to be completely dark during the ‘lalten raj‘…There was no electricity in thousands of villages. They compelled several generations to migrate from Bihar,” he said

“People of Bihar need to be aware of the supporters of these immigrants in the country Congress and RJD want to take away the rights of the people of Bihar and give them to immigrants for appeasement and to increase their vote bank,” he said.

Demographic mission

Speaking on the Independence Day, PM Modi announced a demographic mission to protect the country from the dangers posed by illegal immigrants and alerted the citizens to a conspiracy to change the country’s demography.

“I would like to alert the nation about a concern, a challenge. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, the country’s demography is being changed, and seeds of a new crisis are being sown. These infiltrators are snatching the livelihood of the youth of my country. They are targeting our sisters and daughters. They are misleading the adivasis and grabbing their lands. This will not be tolerated,” he said

Russia-India oil trade—India’s ‘big oil lobby profiteering’ claims Trump’s trade advisor; calls New Delhi ‘laundromat’ for Kremlin

By
Vibha Sharma
-

US doubles down on India: Speaking to media, White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro defends US tariffs, calls India’s trade tactics “cheating”; India has now become a major refining hub for Russian oil while claiming neutrality to avoid “sanctions scrutiny”, he also wrote in a newspaper, accusing that not consumers but “big oil lobby” was “profiteering”

File Photo

White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro has made some starling and serious allegations   against India. In his opinion piece in a leading newspaper earlier this week Navarro claimed that “what really drives this trade is profiteering by India’s big oil lobby”, “refiners buy Russian crude at a heavy discount, process it, and then export fuels to Europe, Africa, and Asia.”

On Friday he accused New Delhi of acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” by purchasing discounted Russian crude oil, refining it, and selling the products at premium prices worldwide. India’s actions were “perpetuating the war” in Ukraine, he also claimed, dismissing India’s assertions that Russian imports were essential for its energy security.

What Navarro said

Speaking to the media, Navarro said that India’s oil purchase from Russia was virtually close to nothing before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “The argument now, when this percentage has gone up to 30-35%, that somehow they need Russian oil, is nonsense…”  he was quoted as saying.

“India doesn’t appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed… It is cosying up to Xi Jinping (Chinese President). They (India) don’t need the (Russian) oil,” he also said

Indian and Italian refiners are colluding to buy cheap crude, refine it, and sell it at premium prices, he claimed

“They make a bunch of money there, but then the Russians use the money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians,” he said

Navarro defends US tariffs

Starting August 27, the US will impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods.

Navarro defended the move, calling India’s trade tactics “cheating.”

“In India, 25% tariffs were put in place because they cheat us on trade. Then 25% because of the Russian oil… They have higher tariffs, Maharaja tariffs… We run a massive trade deficit with them. That hurts American workers and businesses,” he said.

Questioning India’s geopolitical alignment, he said India is “cosying up to Xi Jinping… What you’re doing right now is not creating peace. It’s perpetuating the war… In many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi.”

What India says

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India will “take all actions necessary to protect its national interests”

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also rebuffed the criticism, saying that India is not the biggest purchaser of Russian oil, it is China. “India also buys oil from the US and that amount has increased,” he also said

Jaishankar’s ongoing Russia visit and high-level engagements, including a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin scheduled at the end of this month and a possible Putin’ visit to India later this year, along with ongoing border talks with China are indicative of the pace of consultations between India and two key foreign powers amid the trade tariff’ tensions with the US

For Russia it is important that India does not stop buying crude oil under US pressure and expects that oil supplies would continue at the same level.

What Navarro wrote

In his article Navarro claimed that before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian oil was less than 1% of India’s crude imports and that the “surge is not because India needs more oil for domestic use” but because India has now become a “major refining hub for Russian oil”

 “The proceeds flow to India’s politically connected energy titans, and in turn, into Vladimir Putin’s war chest.

“More than 300,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed, while Nato’s eastern flank grows more exposed and the west foots the bill for India’s oil laundering,” he wrote

Between 2020 and 2024, about 36% of India’s total arms imports came from Russia, Navarro stated. “That blunts any benefit to reducing America’s trade balance while it also risks transferring cutting-edge US military capabilities to an India now cozying up to both Russia and China,” Navarro wrote defending the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on India basically meaning that if India wants to be seen as a “strategic partner” of the US it must change.

Deepening trade ties with Russia: Jaishankar meets Putin, FM amid US tariff tensions

By
Vibha Sharma
-

While laying out a roadmap to deepen bilateral economic ties during the visit, Jaishankar has also been stressing on the need to address the trade imbalance with Russia; The trip precedes high-level engagements, including a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin scheduled at the end of this month and a possible Putin’ visit to India later this year.  

Photo: courtesy EAM’s social media account

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, underscoring India’s intent to deepen ties with Russia even as tensions simmer with the United States over energy trade and tariffs.

“Honoured to call on President Putin at the Kremlin today. Conveyed the warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister @narendramodi. 

“Apprised him of my discussions with First DPM Denis Manturov & FM Sergey Lavrov. The preparations for the Annual Leaders Summit are well underway.  

“Appreciate his sharing perspectives on the global situation and recent developments on Ukraine,” Jaishankar wrote on X

The meeting followed his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov focusing on expanding trade, investment, energy, fertilisers, health, skilling & mobility, defence, and people to people exchanges, according to the EAM’s post on X  

Jaishankar is on a three-day Moscow visit

Coming amid US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and pressure on India to stop buying oil from Russia, claiming that it fuelled the Ukraine war, the meetings are being watched closely

After meeting the Russian Foreign Minister, Jaishankar wrote on X: “Pleased to meet FM Sergey Lavrov today in Moscow. 

“Had a detailed discussion on our bilateral ties, including trade, investment, energy, fertilizers, health, skilling & mobility, defense, and people to people exchanges. 

We exchanged views on Ukraine, Europe, Iran, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. Also spoke about our cooperation in UN, G20, SCO and BRICS. Our meeting helped prepare the outcomes and decisions for the Annual Summit later this year.”

India wants Russia to address trade imbalance

While laying out a roadmap to deepen bilateral economic ties during the visit, Jaishankar has also been stressing on the need to address the trade imbalance with Russia

Addressing the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) on Wednesday, he highlighted that over the past four years, the bilateral trade between the two countries has grown, but so has the trade deficit figure which now stands at a whopping $58.9 billion. He urged Russian firms to step up and engage “more intensively” with Indian businesses.

The crude connection

For Russia it is important that India does not stop buying crude oil under US pressure and expects that oil supplies would continue at the same level.

Russia provides 40 per cent of Indian crude needs

The three-day visit comes at a time when India-US relations are under strain following US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, including an additional 25% penalty linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude.

Summit diplomacy

The trip precedes high-level engagements, including a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin scheduled at the end of this month and a possible Putin’ visit to India later this year.  

According to sources, Putin will travel to New Delhi but no dates have been finalised yet.

Of late, PM Modi and Putin have been in regular touch.

Putin on Monday called up PM Modi where the two leaders discussed the Russian president’s Alaska meeting with Trump.  

Calling Putin his “friend”, PM Modi said India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supported all efforts in this regard.

“Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come,” PM Modi wrote on X

This was the second conversation between PM Modi and the Russian President in a fortnight. ENDS

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