80-yr-old India-Russia military ties extended by 10 more

In strategic signaling that the traditionally close military ties between India and Russia continues to be as close, the two countries extended their military-technical cooperation ties on Monday for another 10 years till 2031 amid the changing geo-political environment, reports senior journalist Sanjib Kr Baruah

New Delhi:Trying to belie a growing belief that India has edged closer to the US since the last few years and cocking a snipe at the US’ threatened sanctions under CAATSA, India and Russia on Monday extended their military-technical cooperation ties for another ten years to 2031 during the meeting between the defence ministers of the two countries.

US’ CAATSA legislation stands for ‘Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act’ on the basis of which the US threatens to impose sanctions on whoever buys weapons from Russia—the provisions India may attract for buying the S-400 air defence and missile systems from Russia.

At the same time, during the 2+2 meeting on Monday, the Indian defence minister seized the opportunity to focus on China with whom India’s ties have come under tremendous strain in the backdrop of border standoffs since May 2020 that has led to massive military mobilization and troop deployments by both sides along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Singh said: “The pandemic, the extraordinary militarization and expansion of armament in our neighbourhood and the completely unprovoked aggression on our northern border since early summer of 2020 have thrown in several challenges.”

“Recognizing that its development needs are colossal and that its defence challenges are legitimate, real and immediate, India seeks partners who are sensitive and responsive to India's expectations and requirements,” the defence minister added.

On Monday, defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart General Sergey Shoigu during the 20th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) inked four pacts which included the contract for procurement of 6,01,427 AK-203 assault rifles to be produced through the Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited.

Read: Rajnath Singh terms first 2+2 meeting with Russians as 'historic'

Pointing out that the close cooperation is not targeted against another country, Singh underlined the significance of the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday as well as the first-ever India-Russia 2+2 ministerial dialogue that followed the defence ministers’ meeting.

India and the erstwhile USSR—predecessor to Russia—began an era of close military-technical cooperation first in 1960 that was to stand the test of time for the next 80 years.

The military-technical cooperation is the bedrock on the basis of which more than 200 industrial facilities have been built in India over the past eight decades “with the technical assistance of Russian (Soviet) specialists”, allowing licensed production, repair and maintenance of armored, aviation and naval equipment, anti-tank missile systems and ammunition of various types.

The focus is now also on “joint research and development activities” that are underway “to create new weapons and military equipment systems”.

After the 2+2 dialogue, Singh said he hoped for Russia’s continued cooperation: “From Ministry of Defence, we have urged for greater military-technical collaboration, advanced research, co-development and co-production of defence equipment leading to self-reliance of India. Separately, we proposed greater engagements in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean region.”