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Indian, Russian leaders set to sign defense deals

Thursday, 24 December 2015 6:37 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 24 December 2015 6:36 PM ]

Russian President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for a meeting with Russian and Indian businessmen at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 24, 2015. ©AFP

Indian Premier Narendra Modi is on a visit to Russia as the two countries plan to sign a number of multi-billion-dollar defense and nuclear deals.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hosted Prime Minister Modi who is on a two-day visit to Moscow in order to attend the 16th India-Russia annual summit talks.

Speaking at the start of the talks at the Kremlin, the Russian president called for “privileged strategic partnership” of the two countries.

Premier Modi, for his part, hailed Putin’s leadership, saying he had “elevated the country to a qualitatively new level.”

The two leaders will also oversee the signing of agreements expected to focus on defense, nuclear and space cooperation.

Modi earlier said he aims to deepen cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow in economic, energy and security spheres.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 24, 2015. ©AFP

Meanwhile, the Reliance Defense, an Indian conglomerate, said on Thursday it had signed a manufacturing and maintenance deal potentially worth USD 6 billion with Russia’s Almaz-Antey, an arms firm.

Earlier this week, India’s top acquisition body said that the New Delhi government had cleared the purchase of five S-400 air defense systems.

“The two sides identified the air defense missile systems.... radars and automated control systems as areas of partnership.... as well as offset policies of the Indian Ministry of Defense,” Reliance said in a statement.

Reacting to the developments, Dipankar Banerjee, an Indian defense analyst at Delhi-based think-tank Forum for Strategic Initiatives, said the purchase of defense missile systems could modernize the country’s defenses against any possible attacks from rivals.

India is also expected to offer Russia a site in its southern state of Andhra Pradesh to build six reactors. Administration of Premier Modi plans to build 12 nuclear reactors across India in a bid to meet the country’s rising energy needs.

India serves as an alternative, fast-growing outlet for Russian exports amid US-led sanctions against Moscow over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Russia and India have shared close ties since India gained its independence in 1947.

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