Ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to China, the White House has expressed concerns regarding India's oil purchases from Russia and its proximity to BRICS. India has been described as a 'Strategic Partner'.
PM Modi China Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China soon. This visit comes at a time when the United States has raised questions about BRICS nations buying cheap oil from Russia and challenging the dominance of the dollar. Amidst US President Donald Trump's tariff policy, Modi's visit sends significant signals in global politics. The White House, responding to this, has described India as a 'Strategic Partner' but also expressed disagreement over oil purchases from Russia.
Modi's China Visit After Seven Years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China later this month. He will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin city from August 31 to September 1. This will be his first visit to China since 2018. Also, this marks the first time PM Modi will step on Chinese soil after the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict.
Apart from India, nine member countries, including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, will participate in the SCO Summit. This summit is taking place at a time when the US, particularly President Trump, has been consistently attacking BRICS nations for buying cheap oil from Russia and challenging the role of the US dollar.
Trump's Displeasure: Questions on Oil Purchases from Russia and the Dollar
US President Donald Trump has recently questioned the growing proximity of BRICS countries to Russia. He alleges that BRICS countries are buying cheap oil from Russia and challenging American economic dominance by promoting currencies other than the dollar.
White House Response
When asked about PM Modi's China visit and the unity of BRICS at the White House, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department, Tommy Pigott, gave a balanced response. He said that India is a strategic partner of the United States, and the two countries have friendly relations, which will continue in the future.
However, he also added that President Trump is quite clear about the trade imbalance with India, especially regarding oil purchases from Russia. Pigott said that, as is the case in foreign policy, 100 percent agreement on everything is not possible. But America's relationship with India is b.
Is BRICS Forming a Coalition Against America?
The US now views the BRICS group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, as more than just an economic partnership platform. American policymakers believe that this group is now moving towards challenging the global economic structure.
In particular, promoting trade in local currencies instead of the dollar and buying energy from a sanctioned country like Russia are increasing America's concerns. China and Russia are trying to balance the influence of Western countries through BRICS, and India's participation is playing a crucial role in this equation.
SCO Summit and India's Strategy
The SCO, or Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, was formed to address issues such as security, terrorism, and regional stability. However, over time, economic and strategic topics have also begun to be discussed. India, which has been a full member of the SCO since 2017, sees this platform as an opportunity for multilateral dialogue and cooperation.
This time, Prime Minister Modi's presence at the summit is considered significant in many ways. Firstly, despite tensions in relations with China, India is participating in this summit. Secondly, amidst America's displeasure with India's relations with Russia and energy purchases, this visit reflects India's independent foreign policy.
Reference to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh's China Visit
A few months ago, in June, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also attended the SCO Defense Ministers' meeting held in Qingdao, China. During that time, he refused to sign a document that could have affected India's strict policy against terrorism. This was a sign that India is clearly stating its position even on multilateral platforms.
