With the bombing of Iraq and the political crisis in Washington together creating an explosive cocktail that has the potential of searing the edges of the new world order, Primakov may well use his Indian journey to re-position Russia's place in the world.

His first remarks in Delhi did not disappoint. The Russian Prime Minister, whose interest in the Arab world is legion, told reporters at the airport that he feared the pause in the US bombing of Iraq was ``only temporary. But we are satisfied,'' he added, ``that the use of force has ended.'' Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, Foreign Secretary K Raghunath and India's Ambassador to Moscow S K Lambah were at the airport to receive him.

For Primakov, India is old, and known, territory. Soon after he was appointed foreign minister inFebruary 1996, he promised to ``reorient the priorities'' of Russian foreign policy, where countries like India would occupy substantial space. In tomorrow's summit with Vajpayee, both leaders are expected to span the spectrum of domestic ties and international relations. New Delhi, still weathering the international fallout of its own nuclear blasts, will keenly await signals of what Moscow will do next on Iraq and other matters. Will Primakov, who wants the global nuclear regime kept intact use the Hyderabad House venue to talk about the ``multi-polarity'' of the new world order? It is his nuclear predilection that worries New Delhi just that bit. If the Russian Prime Minister even remotely adopts a hectoring tone on India's nuclear posture, ties are likely to derail. The government, having suffered crushing defeats in the recent elections, is in no mood to listen to any lectures on foreign policy.

Nevertheless, there are enough indications that both sides are desperately looking for ``feel good''images. Russia's economy continues to be in a shambles and New Delhi remains under the onslaught of a domestic opposition.

Among the seven agreements that will be signed, the one on long-term military-technical cooperation until 2010 AD, will likely corner the most glory.

For one, India is Russia's largest buyer of defence equipment and therefore, the source of good cash. Moscow is not only going ahead with building the civilian nuclear power plants at Kudamkulam, it is also ignoring newly raised eyebrows from Washington about the ``size and strength'' of the decade-long defence cooperation deal with India.