Ajit Doval In Moscow For High-Stakes Talks Amid US Tariff Threats On India

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval arrived in Moscow on Wednesday (6 August) for a series of meetings with senior Russian officials, focusing on defence cooperation, Russian oil supplies, and preparations for the upcoming Modi-Putin summit, as reported by The Hindu.

His visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with Washington pressing ahead with punitive measures against India.

The trip coincides with US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would impose “very substantial” increases on the existing 25 per cent tariffs on Indian exports from Thursday (7 August), citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.

The move marks a sharp escalation in trade pressure. As Russia’s TASS agency reported, “The current escalation of the geopolitical situation will also be discussed. Apart from that, the topics will include such pressing matters as supplies of Russian oil [to India].”

Defence talks are expected to centre on the delivery of remaining S‑400 missile systems, which were pivotal during Operation Sindoor and the India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year.

This is Doval’s first visit to Moscow since that operation, though he met Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Aleksandr Venediktov in Beijing during June’s SCO NSA meeting.

Another sensitive topic is Russia’s recent recognition of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which could reshape regional security. The Kremlin also signalled willingness to hold Ukraine talks, with US envoy Steve Witkoff due in Moscow this week.

Asked about US pressure, President Putin’s aide Dmitry Peshkov stressed that “sovereign countries must have, and do have, the right to choose their trade partners… on their own.”

India, which ramped up Russian oil imports from less than 1 per cent in 2022 to almost 40 per cent at its peak, has called US and EU sanctions “unjustified and unreasonable”.

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