India is keeping its ties with Russia steady with high level visits planned to Moscow this month amid US President Donald Trump’s demand asking to reduce oil imports from Russia and threatening penalties if New Delhi failed to do so.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are planning Moscow trips this month, ET has learnt. While Doval could visit Moscow in early part of this month, Jaishankar is planning a trip to Russia mid-August, it has been further learnt.
Expanding defence industry collaboration besides regional situation will be big on the agenda when Doval meets his Russian counterpart, according to persons familiar with the development.
There are reports that India is looking to purchase additional S-400 defence systems which had contributed to India’s success during Operation Sindoor. India also plans to have MRO facilities for S-400 here. There are also unconfirmed reports that India is exploring purchase of Su-57 fighter jets from Russia.
Cooperation in the resource rich Arctic region and increasing Indian exports to Russia will figure high on the agenda when Jaishankar meets his counterpart Sergey Lavrov besides First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
On Friday while defending ties with Russia MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership.” “Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country.”
India will host the next edition of the annual India-Russia summit this year that will enable President Vladimir Putin to travel to New Delhi for the first time since 2021.
Defence industry ties, energy ties in the backdrop of recent EU sanctions, civil nuclear partnership, Arctic cooperation besides joint roadmap for cooperation in the high-tech sector will be on the agenda of the Summit, ET had reported last month
Food security could also be on the agenda of the Summit. Putin recently mentioned following Modi’s direct request, Russia increased exports of fertilisers to India.
Among other issues, Russia wants India to increase its presence in a big way in the resource rich Arctic region and earmark a second site for the nuclear power plant even as it has established its presence in the Small Modular Reactor sector.
Indian workforce is increasing in the Russian construction and textile sector and a formal agreement on manpower could be inked during the summit.
