US disapproves Indo-Russia summit

Washington: The US voiced it’s disapproval of India’s summit with Russia, saying it was not the right time for “business as usual” with the federation.

India and Russia signed 20 bilateral agreements on Thursday, during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi, in key areas like oil, gas and defence.

US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said, “We’ve seen press reporting on India concluding business, nuclear and defence deals with Russia, but not confirmation of those agreements or specifics of what those agreements would entail. Our view remains that it’s not time for business as usual with Russia.”      

Harf also said was not the time for the US to do business with Russia given its action in Ukraine.      

Russia has been heavily sanctioned by the US and EU for their support of pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine as well as for Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea earlier this year.      

Ahead of Putin’s visit to New Delhi, the US state department last week had voiced concerns over possible bilateral agreements between India and Russia.      

“As we’ve said before, now is not the time for business as usual with Russia,” the US state department spokesperson had said.      

“We’ve conveyed this, certainly, to our allies and to our partners across the world,” she had said.

In a boost to their “special strategic partnership”, Russia on Thursday agreed to build at least 12 nuclear reactors in India besides manufacturing advanced dual-use helicopters.