Jaishankar to visit Moscow, Wang Yi to reach New Delhi , Pg12

Key Highlights:

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Moscow on August 21 to meet with Sergey Lavrov.
• The visit is in preparation for the Russia-India annual summit, where President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India later this year.
• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit New Delhi prior to Jaishankar's Moscow trip.
• Discussions during Wang Yi's visit will focus on the India-China border issue.

Detailed Insights:

• Jaishankar's visit follows NSA Ajit Doval's recent trip to Russia, where he met with Sergey Shoigu and President Putin.
• Putin and Modi had a detailed telephonic conversation on Friday following Doval's visit.
• Wang Yi's visit is planned three months after Operation Sindoor, during which China allegedly provided support to Pakistan.
• India-China discussions will also serve as preparatory meetings for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, where PM Modi is expected to visit.
• India will maintain caution in its relationship with China due to its strong ties with Pakistan.
• These meetings occur amidst growing uncertainty in trade ties with the United States, including tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
• Operation Sindoor: A brief conflict between India and Pakistan.
• Tariffs: Taxes imposed on imported goods or services.