Russia - India Strategic Relationship: News

The potential deal between Gazprom and GAIL is valued at 25b $ over a period of time

https://www.rt.com/business/430185-russia-india-defense-deals-dollar/amp/#click=https://t.co/d19FlXlU3i

So India and Russia will do all military transactions (possibly all transactions) in domestic currencies to bypass any and all sanctions.

US sanctions have no major impact on Indo-Russian defense ties: Envoy

India will early next month allot a new site in Andhra Pradesh to Russia to build yet another atomic power project, as preliminary works for the last two units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu already commenced.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-allot-andhra-pradesh-693395.html

I heard that India is buying 4 more Talwar frigates, true?

miketheterrible wrote:I heard that India is buying 4 more Talwar frigates, true?

yea true 4 more talwar class frigates

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-clears-way-for-2-2-billion-frigates-deal-with-russia/articleshow/65835654.cms

Vladimir Putin India visit LIVE updates: During Putin's visit, India and Russia are likely to sign about 20 pacts in areas ranging from defence, nuclear energy, space and economy.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vladimir-putin-india-visit-live-updates-india-russia-agreements-summit-narendra-modi-5385957/

Here is the itinerary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India

His Excellency Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, October 04 - 05, 2018.

Thursday, October 04, 2018

1840 hrs: Arrival in Delhi, Venue: New Dispersal Area, AFS Palam, Photo Op: AV Media

1930 hrs: Meeting with Prime Minister, Venue: 7, Lok Kalyan Marg

Friday, October 05, 2018

1100 hrs: Meeting with Prime Minister of India, Venue: Hyderabad House, Photo Op: AV Media

1130 hrs: Delegation Level Talks

1330 hrs: Exchange of Agreements and Press Statements, Venue: Hyderabad House, All Media

1430 hrs: Interaction with group of talented children, Venue: Central garden, ITC Maurya, Agencies Only

1530 hrs: Address India-Russia Business Summit, Venue: Kamal Mahal, ITC Maurya, Contact Organiser CII/DIPP

1630 hrs: Meeting with the President, Venue: Rashtrapati Bhawan, Photo Op: Agencies Only

1740 hrs: Emplane

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Delhi on Thursday for the annual India-Russia summit which could see the signing of military deals totalling close to $10 billion; a 24-hour visit that could have lasting implications for the India-U.S. relationship as well.

On Friday, India and Russia are expected to conclude three major military deals: for five S-400 missile systems estimated to cost about ₹39,000 crore (more than $5 billion), four stealth frigates and a deal for Ak-103 assault rifles to be manufactured in India. The U.S. has warned that the deals could attract sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law that restricts defence purchases from Russia, Iran and North Korea.

India has been in negotiations with the U.S. administration for a “sanctions waiver”, but American officials have given no clear signal they will provide one. Last month, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on China as it started taking delivery of Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 systems.

Tightrope walk

The breadth of agreements, including the S-400 deal, during Mr. Putin’s visit is seen as a reiteration of India’s desire for “strategic autonomy” that was highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech this year. It comes a month after the inaugural 2+2 dialogue with the U.S., in which India signed the third foundational agreement — Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement
(COMCASA) — in addition to announcing several measures to operationalise the Major Defence Partner status, indicative of the difficult balance India hopes to maintain amid deepening U.S.-Russia tensions.

On Wednesday Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said that once the Defence Ministry signs the contract, deliveries of the S-400 systems would begin in 24 months. In October 2016, the two countries concluded Inter-Governmental Agreements (IGA) for S-400 systems and four stealth frigates after which the negotiations began to conclude a commercial contract.

Mr. Putin and Mr. Modi will meet on Friday for a “working breakfast” followed by delegation-level talks. They are expected to witness the signing of at least 23 agreements, an official said, including Memoranda of Understanding for investment deals, a major agreement on space cooperation where Russia will assist India with its ‘Gaganyaan’ programme to put a human in space, an MoU for Road Transport and the Road Industry, as well as one for cooperation on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Officials say that nuclear power cooperation, one of the cornerstones of India-Russia ties, will be discussed, but the announcement of new sites for the next phase of Kudankulam reactors is yet to be finalised due to “land acquisition issues.”

Both leaders will also meet with young Indian and Russian student “geniuses” who have excelled in studies, as part of an educational exchange programme.


https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/russian-president-vladimir-putin-arrives-in-india/article25124020.ece?homepage=true

Good to see cooperation in space is included...

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/russia-narendra-modi-order-of-st-andrew-the-apostle-1500321-2019-04-12

Russia awarded PM Narendra Modi the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the highest and the oldest Russian state decoration

HIGHLIGHTS
PM Modi awarded for helping boost India-Russia ties
Order of St Andrew the Apostle was established in 17th century
The award is Russia's highest state decoration
Russia has awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the highest order of the Russian Federation. PM Modi was awarded the order for "exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between" Russia and India, the Russian embassy in India said in a tweet.

PM Modi thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "honoured to receive this prestigious award". "Foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep & the future of our partnership is bright," PM Modi said, adding, "President Putin remains a source of great strength for the India-Russia friendship. Under his visionary leadership, bilateral and multilateral cooperation between our nations has scaled new heights."

According to the Russian government, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle was established in the 17th century by Peter the Great around 1699 and is the oldest of Russia's state decorations.

The Order of St Andrew the Apostle is both the highest and the oldest state decoration of Russia. The order was abolished in the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1918 and was re-established in 1998.


In 2017, Chinese president Xi Jinping was awarded the Order of St Andrew the Apostle.

With the Russian award, PM Narendra Modi has now been honoured with around seven top global awards. PM Modi has previously been awarded the United Arab Emirates's top honour as well as of countries including South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Afghanistan.

Indian AN-32 goes missing near the Chinese border. 7 days later, Indians can't find it.

https://scroll.in/latest/926501/missing-an-32-plane-seven-mountaineers-join-search-operation

New Delhi: India signed the LEMOA or the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement with the United States in August 2016. A similar agreement with Russia is likely in the next two months.

The Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement (RLSA) is being readied and could happen in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to be in Vladivostok for the East Asia Summit in September.

The RLSA will be a tri-service agreement, meaning that the Russians could not only use ports like Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for refuelling but also, airports after the agreement is signed. India, of course, could do the same, when it came to Russian ports and airbases. Interestingly, global warming makes the signing of the agreement with Russia, one of India's closest defence allies, more imperative.

A high-level government official pointed out that the "Northern Arctic could well be upon for longer periods because of global warming. And also, India is looking at an Arctic station in the near future." Currently, there are monitoring stations manned by Indian environmental scientists in Svalbard, in Norway.

Russia is looking for a greater Indian role during the East Asia Summit. They have requested India for the presence of a warship to be anchored off Vladivostok during the summit. This could well be a frigate or destroyer of the Indian Navy made by an Indian shipyard.


The RLSA is more evidence of India's refusal to abandon its 50-year-old defence ties with Russia, despite American pressure. The United States had expressed its disappointment after India purchased the S-400 air-defence system and frigates. During the last meeting with US officials during the visit by Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, India pointed out that Russia had helped when no other country was willing to offer weapons and equipment.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/india-could-sign-lemoa-like-logistics-agreement-with-russia-during-pm-narendra-modis-vladivostok-visit/454355

Russia’s Sibur, partners receive test batch at Indian plant, says CEO

According to Sibur CEO, the plant has in fact been launched but for formalities

MOSCOW, September 10. /TASS/. Sibur and India’s Reliance Industries Ltd. have received a test batch of butyl rubber at the joint integrated petrochemical plant Reliance Sibur Elastomers Private Ltd. in the Indian city of Jamnagar, Chief Executive Officer of Russia’s petrochemical giant Sibur Mikhail Karisalov told TASS on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

"A test batch of butyl rubber has been produced already. The annual capacity is 120,000 tonnes there, first dozens of tonnes have already been produced," he said.
Read also
Chinese investors close deal on acquisition of 10% stake in Russia’s Sibur — source

According to the CEO, it can already be stated that the facility has in fact been launched.

"As for the date of the official launch, official ceremony — probably when the next intergovernmental commission meeting is held, probably, some other occasion and date will be determined. The fact is that a new facility of that type exists in India, while the official launch is a mere formality," he explained.

The joint venture between Sibur and Reliance Industries — Reliance Sibur Elastomers Private — was founded in 2012 for the construction of the butyl rubber production facility at the Reliance Industries’ integrated petrochemical plant in Jamnagar. Karisalov told TASS earlier that the company and partners would invest over $600 mln in the facility.

https://tass.com/economy/1077484

G Parthasarathy
Chancellor, jammu central university & former high commissioner to pakistan

Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on August 14 and asked for Russia’s support to Pakistan’s move, together with China, in the UN Security Council to condemn India’s action to amend Articles 364 and 35-A. His demarche included the usual Pakistani propaganda about alleged violations of ‘human rights’ in J&K. Lavrov, in response, ‘emphasised the need for de-escalation of tensions’. He added: ‘There is no alternative to resolve differences between Pakistan and India, except bilaterally through political and diplomatic means. Representatives of Russia to the UN adhere to this consistent position.’


Barely 48 hours later, the effort by China and Pakistan, in a closed-door meeting of the UNSC, was rejected almost unanimously by other members, including the US, Russia, France and Germany. Some eyebrows were raised on the actions of the British Deputy Permanent Security, who was seen encouraging the Chinese delegation to demand an open meeting. Given the attacks on Indians and the Indian High Commission in London in the days that followed, it is obvious that the British government is condoning, and perhaps even encouraging, less than friendly actions against Indian interests. New Delhi will hopefully respond appropriately on issues like British requests for a Free Trade Agreement after Brexit.


Russia has consistently supported India on Kashmir. In 1955, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev referred to the decision taken by the Kashmir Constituent Assembly in 1953 to join the Indian Union. He remarked: ‘The people of Kashmir had already decided to join the Indian Union.’ Russia’s 100th veto in the UNSC on June 22, 1962, was against a resolution moved by Ireland, duly backed by the US and its allies, seeking selective implementation of parts of past UN resolutions, alluding to a plebiscite in Kashmir. Interestingly, this came a year after a Soviet veto of a US-led resolution in 1961, seeking to reverse the liberation of Goa by India.


The Soviet Union vetoed three resolutions directed against India during the 1971 Bangladesh conflict. Some non-permanent members, backed by a virtual Sino-American alliance, initiated these resolutions. The UK and France abstained from backing these resolutions. The Russians warned the Chinese against any involvement in the Bangladesh conflict, with a huge deployment of their mechanised forces and air power along the Kazakhstan border. When the US Seventh Fleet’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, entered the Bay of Bengal in December 1971, a Russian nuclear submarine trailed it. When the Soviet Union collapsed, President Clinton persuaded Russian President Boris Yeltsin to halt all cooperation with India’s space programme. Bypassing Yeltsin, Russian scientists passed on designs of cryogenic engines to us.


Given US hostility aimed at ‘containing’ Moscow, a cash-strapped Putin’s Russia naturally moved towards a closer relationship with China, while it watched what it believed was an increasingly close embrace of Washington by New Delhi. While Moscow and New Delhi had cooperated closely in countering the Taliban in Afghanistan, India worked closely with the US, after the US intervention in Afghanistan, post 9/11. The Sino-Russian global entente today primarily aims at containing US unilateralism. While Putin has opened the door for arms purchases by Pakistan, Islamabad does not have the hard cash to pay for Russian weapons. Russia has also joined China to cooperate with Pakistan on attempts to broker peace in Afghanistan, as the US prepares to withdraw. Putin has, however, consistently held that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally. The Russian position on its border disputes with Ukraine is also that these issues should be settled bilaterally. Moreover, Crimea has historically been a part of Russia. Nikita Khrushchev had rather impetuously handed it over to Ukraine in 1958.


Moscow’s concerns about the India-US relationship were substantially assuaged when, disregarding threats of US sanctions on arms purchases, India announced that it was going ahead with a $5.43 billion deal to purchase S 400 missiles from Moscow. It is also clear, especially after Modi’s recent visit, that India is not going to bow to threats of sanctions on its acquisitions from Russia, including indigenous production of AK 203 rifles, lease of nuclear submarines, purchase of TU 22 bombers and modernisation/upgrade of current Russian equipment. Modi’s visit to Russia’s resource-rich Far East has given a new ‘Look East’ dimension to India’s ties with Russia.

While India was already an investment partner in the production of natural gas in Russia, Modi’s allocation of $1 billion for Russia’s Far East will set the stage for expanding cooperation. Trade in items like LNG and coal is set to get a boost with the energy corridor between Vladivostok and Chennai. India also has a keen interest in imports of Russian diamonds. Russia helped in ending global nuclear sanctions against India. It now leads in building nuclear plants in India.

The Russians have for long feared that Chinese would move in and take control of their sparsely populated northeastern borders. Despite the present Sino-Russian bonhomie, the Russians deeply distrust long-term Chinese intentions. Even today, Moscow hedges its bets and keeps it channels of communication and cooperation open with both India and Vietnam. The US also today seeks maritime and economic cooperation with both India and Vietnam to counter Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific Region. Indian diplomacy will, in coming years, remain focused on the emerging power equations between the US, China and Russia, in a world where the US and Russia will be the major players in the global energy sector.


https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/a-friendship-for-keeps/834774.html

India is set to change the bank it uses to make payments for Russian arms and is likely to route the money through UCO Bank, which is also being used to carry out trade with Iran.

NEW DELHI: India is set to change the bank it uses to make payments for Russian arms and is likely to route the money through UCO Bank, which is also being used to carry out trade with Iran. The payments, which are complicated due to the threat of US sanctions on purchase of military hardware like the S-400 air defence systems from Russia, were earlier being routed through Syndicate Bank

Sources told Economic Times that the new route was necessary due to the merger of Syndicate and Canara banks, with the latter having exposure to international markets that could be threatened due to US sanctions. UCO Bank, which has been used in the past to make payments for oil to Iran, is likely to get business worth over $4 billion annually, given the large volume of Russian arms that have been ordered and are in the process of delivery. As reported by ET, an alternative route to channel the money to Russia was figured out last year after payment worth billions got bunched up after State Bank of India (SBI) refused to carry out transactions with the fear that sanctions could be triggered

Major projects for which payments will flow to Russia over the next few years include the $5.4 billion contract for the S-400 system, a $3 billion deal to lease another nuclear attack submarine and the $2 billion contract to procure four frigates for the navy. Besides, upcoming contracts that are in the final stages of contract signing include the $1 billion deal for Kamov KA 226 choppers and AK 203 assault rifles that are to be made in India.

Despite the ever present threat of US sanctions, India has been clear that it will not back off from the S-400 deal with Russian manufacturer Almaz-Antey that has been in Washington cross hairs. However, the threat of US action under the controversial Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) had scared away financial institutions from processing transactions.

As reported by ET, while India found an alternate route for payments by using banks with minimal exposure to the US, the issue took over a year to resolve as Russian financial institutions too refused to be party to transactions that would threaten their global business. Meanwhile, India is seeking to strike a balance with deals worth billions under discussion with the US as well. This includes additional Poseidon P8I maritime aircraft valued at over $3 b and a $2.6 b deal for 24 naval multi role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters. Other plans include the $1 b National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System for the National Capital Region, six more Apache attack helicopters and a $1 billion deal to acquire 13 of the MK 45 naval guns to be used on frontline warships.

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/after-iran-uco-bank-may-be-chosen-to-pay-russia/articleshow/73317258.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Excellent read. India is moving steadfastly toward the US as its strategic partner and security guarantor, an incredibly naive and stupid move that will undoubtedly turn into an embarrassing failure of foreign policy. For a country that once took due pride in their independent, non-aligned strategic policy, they are steering gleefully into the embrace of the US, on course to become another vassal state.

https://www.mk.ru/politics/2021/02/21/ekspert-nazval-plyusy-ot-prodazhi-rossiyskogo-oruzhiya-pakistanu.html

It's simple: the Indians threw out the MiG-35 from the tender and preferred the French Rafale to it. So, according to their logic, this is a bad plane? That is, they should not have any objections to the fact that we will deliver to Pakistan a “bad” plane, in their opinion? Well, and the fact that Pakistan for half the money will be able to buy twice as many... than the Indians bought Rafale, this will already be a reason for the Indian military to think about the correctness of their choice.

Here's another aspect: after all, India itself buys weapons from those countries that supply them at the same time to her and Pakistan. Pakistan is full of French weapons: submarines, fighters ... Nevertheless, the Indians continue to actively work with France. That is, it turns out that the French are allowed to supply weapons to Pakistan, but we are given some conditions?

As soon as Russia delivered four helicopters to Pakistan, the cry went up to the skies. Why is France allowed what Russia is not allowed? It doesn't have to be that way.

Again, while India mainly bought weapons from Russia, this can and should be tolerated. Well, or at least be understanding. But if now India sees Russia not as the first country where you buy weapons, but as one of many, then why should we limit ourselves? If Russia no longer has exclusive positions on the Indian market, then why should Moscow perceive India as a privileged partner?

India is selling itself out or nothing in return. They've already happily signed away four foundational agreements submitting themselves to US military oversight. Yet when the shit hit the fan last year with China in Ladakh, Uncle Sam didn't do a thing for them except offer some token words. It was Russia that stepped up with its diplomacy to mediate between the two sides, hosting a meeting of their respective defence chiefs in Moscow to negotiate a settlement to the fighting.

Like so many other countries, Indians have been seduced by the superficial glitz and glamour American media and politicians sell so well to enchant countries into believing in fairy tales. But in reality, there is nothing much the US can do for India against China if they enter into confrontation. And the irony is that the more India draws itself closer to the US, the more it aggravates the Chinese, further straining relations. A thoroughly nonsensical and counterproductive strategy. In the end they would only have themselves to blame.

As I've repeated before, Russia's foreign policy toward ungrateful, sell-out countries (especially including ex-Soviet and Eastern European states) should be strictly transactional and commercial. Give up privately on hopes for any of them cherishing fraternity, brotherhood, shared history, culture, language etc., but in public carry on trumpeting such fanciful, rhetorical "values". Sell that bullshit, make money and secure your strategic interests. The US has already provided the blueprints to this facetious playbook, selling their "values" too.

I guess uk colonization wasn't enough. Some people prefer to live like dogs. What can you do against that ?

When a government is bought they often spend on the local media as well, so when you own a government and you also own the local media so that there is little analysis as to decisions made and agreements signed the general public often does not realise they have already been sold down the river... most countries rely on a  free press for such a warning and a free press is the first thing the CIA infiltrates and perverts...

When the brown stuff hits the bladed room cooling device it will of course be too late... and it will all be Russias fault... why didn't they warn us...

As mentioned in the article, Russia can't supply weapons to China or Pakistan, yet the US and France can sell to Pakistan... it is powerful rich international companies like Apple and Microsoft that set up cheap production in China that led to Chinas growth and development... (obviously it was not just that... they had to make the right choices and decisions too of course)...

I rather suspect the US has decided that India is a huge country... like China... but it has a tiny navy... so point India at China and tell them to massively boost their navy which will pour trillions of dollars into American pockets they hope and force China to focus on India instead of just the US.

The amusing thing is that the result could be India starts to focus and make better choices and becomes as big a problem for the US as China is.

This is not about culture or values or ideology... the US doesn't care about communism... it is about economy and rivals and they think they can damage two potential giant rivals by facing them off against each other because both countries with over 1 billion people each represent and economic threat to the US because they could be better in every way if they focus and don't piss away all their development money on making weapons to point over a line on a map.


The US is essentially trying to face two rivals off against each other as a distraction while they try to reset and rebuild their own broken country... and make some money while they are at it...

Interview with the Ambassador of India to Russia

The Kommersant newspaper, under the headline "A revolution is taking place in Russian-Indian relations," published an interesting interview with the outgoing Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation Bala Venkatesh Varma, concerning, among other things, Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation. Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation Bala Venkatesh Varma (c) Anatoly Zhdanov / Kommersant


Indian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Bala Venkatesh Varma , who is completing a three-year business trip to the Russian Federation, summed up the results of his work and told Kommersant correspondent Sergei Strokan about new trends in Russian-Indian relations.


“Act in the Far East”: a new growth strategy

- Mr. Ambassador, your three-year stay in Moscow has coincided with a number of significant events in Russian-Indian relations. Which ones were the most important?

- It was a period of radical changes both in bilateral relations and in our interaction in resolving international issues. The defining events were President Putin's visit to India in October 2018, which took place just a month after I became ambassador to Moscow, and Prime Minister Modi's visit to Vladivostok in September 2019. Let me remind you that then Narendra Modi was the main guest of the Eastern Economic Forum, which also hosted the annual Russian-Indian summit.

Despite the fact that in the past year and a half our interaction has been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, we have managed to maintain high-level contacts. The personal trust between the two leaders was further strengthened. Meetings of foreign ministers, defense ministers, energy ministers and national security advisers took place. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Minister of Defense took part in the parade on Red Square, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In August this year, President Putin attended a special UN Security Council meeting on maritime security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And in 2019, President Putin awarded Prime Minister Modi with the highest Russian civilian award - the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, which was a great honor for Narendra Modi and for India.

During my stay in Moscow, such traditional areas of Indian-Russian cooperation as defense, nuclear energy, space and the energy sector have been further strengthened. However, we have also expanded our partnerships - new directions have appeared in them. I would say that over the past three years, our particularly privileged strategic partnership has become even stronger and more diversified. The picture of interaction today is very different from what it was three or four years ago. Now it is based on a new trajectory of growth and expansion of interaction. This cannot but cause satisfaction. This would not have been possible without the support from Delhi, as well as without the powerful support that I received here in Moscow, and for which I express my gratitude and gratitude.

- Could you tell us more about the new trends, since you were one of their architects?

- Ambassadors are not architects, they are instruments of politics. The biggest change in the past three years is the way India looks at Russia.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vladivostok in 2019 served as an impetus for the formation of a new Indian policy “Act in the Far East”, which prioritizes interregional cooperation.

For the first time, India announced the opening of a $ 1 billion concessional credit line to expand the participation of Indian businesses in the development of Russia, especially in the Far East.

We are promoting the development of the Chennai-Vladivostok sea corridor. It will complement the North-South corridor through Iran. We are also taking part in the development of the Northern Sea Route, including in the Arctic zone, on which India and Russia are holding special consultations.

That is, India's participation in various parts of the large Eurasian continent is in the interests of Russia, as well as India itself. We have discovered new areas of interaction, the impact of which will be measured not in months or years, but in decades. It is with these time categories that we must measure our strategic partnership.

In the field of defense, we have concluded a very important contract for the Russian S-400 air defense systems, the first deliveries under which this year are being carried out according to the schedule.

I cannot fail to mention the joint production of four Project 1135.6 frigates, the production in India of the world's most advanced AK-203 assault rifle with 100% localization, additional supplies of the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, as well as additional supplies of Mango ammunition and the small air defense system. radius of action.

Russian-Indian military exercises have become larger and more diverse.

The level of relations between India and Russia in the defense industry in all areas has grown exponentially. In fact, over these three years, Russia has regained its first place in the list of defense partners. Russia interacts with India on the most advanced defense technologies, which it does not do with any other country in the world.

In the same way, we are developing major energy projects. Vostok Oil will definitely make India a part of one of the largest energy projects in the world.

India's potential investment in Arctic LNG-2 and Russia's investment in the Paradip cracking plant will open up a new area of ​​cooperation in the petrochemical industry.

The new task force on gas will attract Russia as the main partner, including in the field of hydrogen energy, which is important in the context of climate change.

We intend to increase the import of Russian oil to India, which is now only 1%. Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Puri, who visited Russia in September, announced that we intend to increase Russian oil imports to 3%, 4% or 5% over the next five years.

During the coronavirus pandemic, our cooperation continued. Air traffic was maintained.

One of the main areas of cooperation was the production of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in India.

We have also entered into an agreement for the long-term supply of coking coal for the Indian steel industry. We are awaiting the signing of a similar agreement for the supply of fertilizers. We will soon take our cooperation in science and technology to a new level through the establishment of a new Joint Commission.

Cooperation in the field of training qualified personnel is also gaining momentum. MDL is cooperating with the Zvezda shipyard in the construction of new ships for the Northern Sea Route. We have also expanded our embassy, ​​which is already one of the largest Indian embassies abroad, to pursue new areas of cooperation with Russia. We have a new space office, a new energy office, and I am pleased to announce that a new tourist office will open soon in Moscow.

- The old idea of ​​Russian-Indian relations as a political colossus on clay economic feet is no longer relevant?

- Today the focus is on the development of new areas of cooperation in pharmaceuticals, ceramics, the chemical industry, high-tech industries, robotics, and Internet banking.

We are also looking at new Russian investments in India's rail sector. We are awaiting the signing of a new intergovernmental agreement in the field of shipping. And most importantly, Russia is a highly coveted partner in India's Do-in-India defense program, which is now guaranteed to pave the way for further strengthening the already existing and historically very successful relationship.

In general, I would say that a revolution is taking place in our relations at the strategic, political, economic, trade and high-tech levels, as well as in the interaction between people.

- You call it a revolution?

- Yes, this is a revolution in terms of all the ambition of goals and the use of new tools to achieve them.

We are also expanding our contacts with regions where Buddhism is widespread. Recently, a delegation of experts on Buddhism came to us, which visited Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva. This will further strengthen the relationship between the peoples of India and Russia. Yoga and Ayurveda are also very popular in Russia. Some of the Indian wrestlers who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics have trained in Russia. Our astronauts, who will fly into space in 2023 aboard an Indian spacecraft, received basic training in Russia - another enduring symbol of our friendship.

- What do you expect from the upcoming Russian-Indian summit, which did not take place last year?

- Russia and India have developed a well-established practice of holding annual bilateral summits, which has been going on for almost two decades.

But, unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we were unable to hold the summit in 2020. We proceed from the assumption, and both sides are actively discussing this, that President Putin will be able to visit India by the end of this year. In addition, we also expect that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will visit India to participate in the Intergovernmental Commission on Defense Issues, presumably on its sidelines the first ministerial meeting in the "2 + 2" format (with the participation of the defense ministers and foreign ministers of the two countries will take place. - "b").

Also, a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission is to be held in India. So we have a very tight schedule of meetings in preparation for the bilateral summit. I believe that the summit between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi will be very productive and inclusive. We already have a number of important agreements ready for signing or at the final stage of approval.

“India has always worked independently and will continue to do so”

- Sometimes we do not fully understand each other. It is believed that India is leaving the United States, turning away from Russia.

- The relationship between India and Russia has a unique strength that has repeatedly shown that it follows its own logic and is immune to pressure from third countries. In addition, India is too big a country to be pulled in one direction or another.

India stands on its own feet, thinks with its own head and pursues its own interests.

Both countries believe in the principle of multipolarity. As our Foreign Minister Dr. Subramaniyam Jaishankar said in his speech at IMEMO in July this year, the principle of a multipolar world is a legitimate desire for flexibility without a desire for exclusivity.

India and Russia are pursuing similar strategies to strengthen the multipolar system. We are interested in the widest possible participation so that each pole can contribute to the general equilibrium and strategic stability of the multipolar system. Multipolarity is not just a slogan; it requires concrete action.

As for our relations with the United States, they have strengthened even more in recent years. Similar to our strategic partnership with Russia, which is special and privileged, we also have a strategic partnership with the United States. There are very powerful incentives for this relationship. But there is no internal contradiction in our relationship with the United States and in our relationship with Russia. In our view, each relationship has its own merits, and further strengthening of India's relationship with the United States, along with the strengthening of our relationship with Russia, actually increases the strength and credibility of the multipolar system.

- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the creation of the QUAD and AUKUS alliances erodes security in the Asia-Pacific region. But India is a member of QUAD, and many in Moscow are puzzled.

- Striving for multipolarity during a colossal geopolitical shake-up requires the establishment of new partnerships. India seeks an open architecture of international relations based on multipolarity not only in the world, but also in Asia, where no country can impose its will through domination or military force. For this reason, we are looking for new ways of cooperation.

India is a member of QUAD. Recently, a QUAD summit was held in Washington, which was attended by Prime Minister Modi. India agreed to cooperate in certain areas that are pressing global problems. These include the fight against the COVID pandemic, new infrastructure, new technologies, climate change and a new generation of youth cooperation. These trends show that QUAD is not an alliance or quasi-alliance. India views QUAD differently. India has always worked independently and will continue to do so. Just as we seek to establish partnerships with QUAD, we are seeking similar partnerships with the BRICS and SCO.

We also strove for partnerships, no matter how complex they may seem, within the RIC (Russia-India-China). India will use its capabilities wherever they are, in accordance with the requirements of its own security and its foreign policy interests.

And let me stress once again: in the pursuit of these opportunities, we see no contradictions with our long-standing strategic partnership with Russia.

China Changes the Status Quo

- Another pressing issue is relations with China. Moscow is increasingly saying that the United States is dragging India into an anti-Chinese game. How does this happen?

- India is too big a country for any other country to be drawn into anything, into any policy that does not meet its own interests.

At the same time, let me say that the exacerbation of the situation on the India-China demarcation line in Ladakh, which has remained very difficult since last summer, was caused by China's unilateral attempts to change the status quo and the violation of the bilateral agreement on maintaining peace and tranquility on the Indian border and China.

We would like to resolve these difficulties in our bilateral relations through dialogue. The 13th round of negotiations among the corps commanders took place quite recently, on 10 October. Not so long ago, a meeting of foreign ministers was held in Dushanbe. We want to move forward and resolve this issue in such a way as to ensure both the withdrawal of troops and the de-escalation of tensions. We are committed to resolving these differences peacefully and bilaterally through dialogue.

We expect the Chinese side to take into account the overall perspective of our bilateral relations and work to resolve outstanding issues as soon as possible in accordance with our bilateral agreements. We interact with China on a bilateral basis, as well as at various sites, including Russia-India-China. The next meeting at the level of foreign ministers is likely to be held in the format of a videoconference.

In addition, interaction with China is carried out within the UN Security Council, of which India is a member, as well as in the G20, BRICS and SCO.

- If you compare what the situation was like when you arrived in Moscow with what is happening today, has China become more persistent in changing the status quo?

- It is difficult to deny that such a perception of Chinese politics exists not only in the context of India-China relations, but also in a broader sense.

But I must point out that the Russian side has shown significant understanding of the problems facing India, and I must express my gratitude to the Russian Ministry of Defense for the regular supply of weapons to India. They continued even in the most intense months and weeks of this protracted standoff in Ladakh between the troops of India and China, which has continued since mid-2020.

Afghanistan - History of Broken Promises

- Another hot topic is Afghanistan. Initially, Delhi did not share Moscow's hopes that the Taliban (banned in Russia) would not allow international terrorists to use the territory of Afghanistan.

- India shares the concern of the world community about the current crisis situation in Afghanistan, above all about the humanitarian crisis. How we got to this crisis is, of course, a matter of analysis and introspection. The Doha process (negotiations on Afghanistan in Doha - "Kommersant"), in which India did not participate, or the "Troika Plus" process (the "expanded troika on Afghanistan" includes Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan. - "Kommersant"), in which India was not allowed to participate, pursued certain goals, which in reality turned out to be very different from what was originally intended.

This crisis was caused by the collapse of the Ghani government, as well as the rapid withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan, and in particular from Kabul.

I believe that India and Russia may have taken different paths - I repeat, we did not participate in the Doha and Troika Plus processes, but we are moving in the same direction.

The situation in Afghanistan creates the same problems for us: instability, drug trafficking, the threat of terrorism, as well as the spread of instability to Central Asia. In August, President Putin discussed this with Prime Minister Modi. Shortly thereafter, Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev visited India and held extensive talks with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Subsequently, we held a series of meetings between India and Russia, not all of which were public.

This is because both sides recognize that the challenge posed by the current situation in Afghanistan affects India and Russia, probably more than any other group of countries. India will take part in the Moscow format meeting on October 20.

We are also cooperating at the level of our National Security Councils, and India will host a high-level meeting of the region's national security councils on Afghanistan in November.

- The Taliban leaders promised Moscow that they would destroy international terrorists on the territory of Afghanistan. Will they be able to deliver on this promise?

“Unfortunately, in the past few months we have become convinced that Afghanistan is a story of unfulfilled promises. Let's wait and see if the Taliban break their word or back it up with action.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4416496.html

India will import LNG worth an estimated $25 billion from Russia. First direct shipment of Russian LNG has just arrived in India

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/india-receives-first-direct-shipment-of-russian-lng-under-long-term-contract/articleshow/87287564.cms

Sujoy wrote:India will import LNG worth an estimated $25 billion from Russia. First direct shipment of Russian LNG has just arrived in India

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/india-receives-first-direct-shipment-of-russian-lng-under-long-term-contract/articleshow/87287564.cms

India needs a dedicated supply line of gas and oil from Russia to realize full potential of non defense trade between the two countries which is very dismal since past so many years. Moreover its high time India reduces its dependence on Arabian states so this deal with Russia is welcome

This is something in the pipeline ( ) for a while now. A connection via China and Myanmar is on the table since ... 2012?

Why Washington Can't Ask New Delhi to Drop S-400 Deal. This article originally appeared on the Global Times website. 16/11/2021.

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India early next month, Moscow has started deliveries of S-400 air defence systems to India, a senior Russian official confirmed on Sunday. This has severely struck nerves in Washington.

For example, US media outlet The Hill published an article criticizing New Delhi, noting that "India's nearly completed, $5.43 billion purchase of Russian S-400 air-defence systems raises serious obstacles to closer politico-military relations between Washington and New Delhi."

New Delhi and Moscow have a long history of military relations dating from the Soviet Union period. In fact, 86 percent of the equipment, weapons and platforms currently in military service in India are of Russian origin. It was only after Washington eased its relations with New Delhi in 2001 that it started to sell large amounts of weapons and equipment to the latter. So the US is in no position to ask India to cancel the deal. In Indian military, Russia's air defence system is more widely used. India's purchase of S-400 (after the purchase of S-300 is completed) is consistent, legitimate and appropriate. This is a conundrum for the US, which wants to impose sanctions on India to justify its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). It is also worrying that New Delhi will swing to Moscow if the sanctions are imposed. The sanctions that could possibly be imposed by the US on India under its domestic laws will actually be a lot of cry and very little wool.

For India, a non-ally and a major power in the Indo-Pacific region that the US is trying to woo, Washington may not really impose sanctions. Why? Because sanction could mean the US loses the Indian arms market. If the US wants to occupy the Indian arms market, it will have to compete with Russian equipment in terms of performance and price. India has an open arms market and it won't only buy weapons and equipment from the US. India also does not want to face restrictions on arms procurement. If India follows the wishes of the US on the S-400 procurement issue, it will cut itself off from buying Russian made weapons. Moreover, the US has a terrible history of withholding money from other countries and stopping arms deliveries for various reasons. This also makes India hesitant.

No matter who takes the office, the relationship between the US and India is one of the focuses of the US' national strategy. Ergo, selling weapons and equipment to India to occupy the Indian arms market, and including New Delhi into Washington's alliance system is in line with the political and military needs of the US.

It can be said that India is a traditional partner of Russia. Yet India and the US are not close allies. That being the case, both the US and Russia have a strong need to woo India as a loyal buyer. After all, India is heavily dependent on foreign supplies for its domestic military-industrial capabilities. India's demand for arms is big. The US does not want to give up such a great deal.

Putin's scheduled visit to India in the first week of December could provoke strong backlash from the US. Washington hopes to achieve the goal of political integration, military support and strategic coordination with New Delhi. In other words, the essence of the US-India relationship is about using each other: Each takes what they need. India also has its own independent foreign policy. It is the US' wishful thinking to "threaten" India to give up military cooperation with Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/20211116/why-washington-cant-ask-new-delhi-to-drop-s-400-deal-1090769614.html

Pinto wrote:

Sujoy wrote:India will import LNG worth an estimated $25 billion from Russia. First direct shipment of Russian LNG has just arrived in India

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/india-receives-first-direct-shipment-of-russian-lng-under-long-term-contract/articleshow/87287564.cms

India needs a dedicated supply line of gas and oil from Russia to realize full potential of non defense trade between the two countries which is very dismal since past so many years. Moreover its high time India reduces its dependence on Arabian states so this deal with Russia is welcome

The North-South corridor through Iran and the Caspian and the Vladivostok-Chennai maritime corridor are also key aspects of the trade relationship being worked on. Once they reach full-steam we'd have cheaper logistics that would allow a lot of products, resources to be sold back and forth profitably

As I've repeated before, Russia's foreign policy toward ungrateful, sell-out countries (especially including ex-Soviet and Eastern European states) should be strictly transactional and commercial. Give up privately on hopes for any of them cherishing fraternity, brotherhood, shared history, culture, language etc., but in public carry on trumpeting such fanciful, rhetorical "values". Sell that bullshit, make money and secure your strategic interests. The US has already provided the blueprints to this facetious playbook, selling their "values" too.

Russia would not benefit from manipulating trade partners the way the US does today, in fact the US would benefit because then they could truly say the Russians and the Chinese are no better than us so better the devil you know.

Russia and China are not trying to get into the position the US is in now, they want a unipolar world where they can make their own choices and decisions and don't have to bow down to any other country.

Russia would be a pole of power, but so would China and even the US, and the EU and other countries... Brazil, India, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, etc etc a situation where groups of countries don't gang up to bully other countries or regions... that is how WWI started and was what created the necessary conditions for WWII to happen... and almost started WWIII several times.