NEW DELHI: India and Russia have agreed to strengthen their longstanding defence partnership, according to a statement by the Indian government.
The talks between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu were held on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ gathering in New Delhi.
The statement highlighted the “unique, long-lasting and time-tested relationship” between the two countries and expressed satisfaction over the continued trust and mutual respect in the defence sector. However, it did not elaborate on any specific measures to enhance the partnership.
India, the world’s largest arms importer, depends on Russia for nearly half of its military supplies and has purchased fighter jets, tanks, nuclear submarines, and an aircraft carrier from Moscow over the years.
However, the war in Ukraine has affected the supply of Russian spares, which are critical for India to maintain its tank and fighter jet fleets.
The delivery of Russian air defence systems has also been delayed. Despite this, India has refused to publicly blame Russia for the conflict in Ukraine and has increased its trade with Moscow to a record high, largely driven by the import of Russian oil.
India and Russia trade relations
Several Western leaders have criticised India’s close ties with Russia, as they attempt to isolate Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
However, New Delhi has defended its interests in buying Russian oil and has pushed for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Meanwhile, Moscow hosted the defence ministers of Iran, Syria, and Turkey on Tuesday, and Shoigu also held talks with China’s defence minister on April 18.
During the SCO meeting, Shoigu claimed that the real aim of the West in Ukraine was to strategically defeat Russia, pose a threat to China, and maintain its monopoly position, according to the Russian state-owned news agency RIA.
The talks between India and Russia come amid growing geopolitical tensions in the region, with China and the US vying for influence and Russia asserting its dominance in Eastern Europe.
The SCO meeting was seen as an opportunity for India to strengthen its ties with Russia and other Central Asian nations while also exploring avenues for cooperation with China on regional security issues.
The SCO is a regional grouping comprising China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The grouping aims to promote political, economic, and security cooperation among its member countries.
