Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his visit to Russia on Monday. Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin shows the delicate balance that India hopes to strike between Russia, the United States, and China.

During the Cold War, India led the Non-Aligned Movement, promising a way between the capitalist West and communist East. While India built relations with the U.S., it relied on Soviet technological and industrial support. In particular, Soviet arms were the main supplier for the Indian military.