US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki, Finland on Monday

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin began an historic summit on July 16. Thaw of relations welcome to keen foreign policy hands in South Block. India 'welcomes' any forward movement between the two leaders

Amid trade wars with China, peace talks with North Korea and a pullout from the Iran nuclear deal, the United States summit-level meeting with Russia is an indication of the realignment of America's foreign policy, one that could be greatly advantageous to India.

The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended on a positive note where both leaders supported each other despite many back home and many European nations wishing a failure.

While it might not be good news for Europe which is having a very strained relation with Russia post the Salisbury incident, the thaw is welcome to all the keen foreign policy hands in South Block who are following developments very closely.

Sources have told India Today that any forward movement between the two important partners of India is 'welcome'.

"It would give us a bit of strategic space," said an official when asked how would this meeting help India. There are many areas of 'convergence' between India and Russia that could have been upended if not for India to find a way to seek a 'carve-out' on the various deals or issues.

RUSSIA-PAKISTAN-CHINA NEXUS

One of the biggest concern for India has been the growing proximity of Russia to Pakistan and formation of an axis that could put India's strategic hold and counter terrorism operations under threat. "There have been concerns about Russia's proximity to China and Pakistan. Any movement where India, US and Russia can find strategic meeting ground can help claw Russia out of the Russia-Pakistan-China nexus," said a source.

CAATSA

The other area of concern is the adverse impact Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) could have on India which aims to punish aggression by Iran, Russia and North Korea through sanctions. Sanctions against Russian companies that India is either doing business with, such as India's planned procurement of the S-400 air defence system could be hit hard by sanctions from America. A positive movement in US-Russia ties would enable more 'accommodating' to India's strategic plans.

IRAN

US'withdrawal from the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) has brought one of the biggest hurdles for India in trading in oil with Iran and also in continuing with its project in Chabahar port which India has impressed upon the US that it is strategically important for all stakeholders invested in Afghanistan as it would circumvent Pakistan and give access to Afghanistan.

"We mentioned our concern about the withdrawal of the US from the deal. Thanks to the Iranian nuclear deal, Iran submitted to the control of IAEA, it effectively ensures the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear program", Trump said during the joint press conference in Helsinki on Monday.

Iran and India also stressed the importance of the JCPOA as an important diplomatic achievement which affects not only the signatory countries but also the international community during a meeting between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and Vijay Keshav Gokhale the Foreign Secretary of India in New Delhi on Monday.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan is geo-strategically important to all countries in question here, particularly India, US, Russia, China and Pakistan. Any cooperation between US and Russia on that front to help bring stability in the region given the isolation of Moscow was the reason why it was inclined to engage the Taliban and Pakistan said a source.

SYRIA, UKRAINE

India and Russia have been on the same page when it comes to the issue of Syria while there have been differences on the issue of Ukraine and occupation of Crimea. But, agreeing to work towards peacebuilding is a positive development.

NORTH KOREA PEACE TALKS

India has always advocated dialogue. The statement of President Trump backing the same thought shows that if these two leaders move to engage constructively then the great tussle in the Indo-Pacific region and the growing aggression of China can be contained with all stakeholders looking at a healthy competition devoid of conflict.

President Trump on Monday said, "I would rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace than to risk peace in pursuit of politics."

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