Indian Defense Minister visits Russia to strengthen military ties

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently visited Moscow to attend the 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired by the chiefs of staff of India and Russia, emphasizing the robust bilateral ties between the two nations.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov highlighted the durable foundation of Russia-India relations, attributing this partnership to the trust-based relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“There is a strong friendship between our countries, tested and strengthened over time. I believe that our meeting will contribute to further strengthening Russia-India relations in defense and security,” Belousov stated.

Rajnath Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to its partnership with Russia, noting that despite geopolitical challenges and external pressures, India has consciously chosen to not only maintain but also deepen its cooperation with Russia.

“We will always stand by our Russian counterparts,” Singh declared.

A contract for the supply of 10 divisions of the S-400 surface-to-air missile systems is nearing completion, according to sources in the field of military-technical cooperation.

A factory in India has commenced production of Kalashnikov rifles, marking a significant step in the Make in India initiative.

Singh visited the seventh Project 11356 frigate delivered to India in Kaliningrad Oblast. Of the three remaining frigates in this class, two will be built in India.

Plans are underway to construct the Voronezh missile warning system radar in India, showcasing the broad scope of collaboration between the two countries.

Olga Solodkova, Associate Professor at the Higher School of Economics, noted that while India has historically trusted Russia, the relationship has faced challenges due to Russia’s growing ties with China, a nation with whom India has a contentious history.

“China’s economic superiority and the advantages it offers to Russia cannot be matched by India,” Solodkova told Vedomosti.

Boris Volkhonsky, Associate Professor at the Institute of Asian and African Countries, emphasized that India’s decisions on military cooperation are guided by its national interests. He noted India’s diversification of arms supply while reaffirming the proven reliability of Russian weaponry. Volkhonsky also acknowledged the significant pressure India faces from the United States regarding its defense partnerships.