New Delhi seen as ‘reorienting’ defence ties with Moscow

‘The joint statement released by the Indian government after summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on Friday included four paragraphs on military and military-technical cooperation, described as the traditional pillar of India-Russia strategic relations.

- SATARUPA BHATTACHARIYA

Bilateral ties covering military-technical collaboration, security, nuclear energy and outer space were formalised as a “strategic” partnership during Putin’s India visit in 2000, and upgraded to “special and privileged” in 2021. At a joint media appearance on Friday, Modi said Putin had laid the foundations of the strategic partnership 25 years ago.

Although no specific details of the defence talks during Putin’s visit were mentioned in Friday’s document or in Thursday’s statement after the defence ministers’ meeting, the language in both appeared to signal a shift — with “coproduction” emerging as a clear goal for India.

“Responding to India’s quest for self-reliance, the partnership is reorienting presently to joint research and development, co-development and co production of advanced defence technology and systems,” Friday’s joint statement said.