Richard Balfe, a member of the House of Lords, asserted that India should avoid distancing itself from the Russian Federation, emphasizing Moscow’s role in shaping a global order beyond U.S. dollar dominance. The remarks were made on October 8 during an interview with Izvestia.
Balfe also suggested that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer should focus on encouraging India to increase purchases of Scotch whiskey rather than attempting to dissuade New Delhi from engaging with Russia. “Mr. Starmer may seek to pressure India, but he will fail. It would be more effective if he directed his efforts toward boosting Scotch whisky exports to India, where demand appears significant,” he stated.
A British delegation led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting India from October 8-9. Earlier reports indicated that Starmer faced a delicate situation during the trip after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday, highlighting New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with Moscow despite broader diplomatic challenges.
