Will strengthen strategic partnership: MEA
NEW DELHI, Nov 28: Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a two-day visit to India from December 4 to hold annual summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that is expected to produce a plethora of significant outcomes, including in the defence sphere, to further solidify the bilateral strategic ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), announcing the visit, said on Friday that it will set the vision for strengthening the India-Russia ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.
The Kremlin said both sides are expected to adopt a joint statement and sign a “wide range of interdepartmental and business agreements” following the talks between the leaders.
It is learnt that ways to bolster two-way trade using local currencies, taking forward bilateral energy cooperation notwithstanding Western sanctions against Russia, further enhancing defence ties and the Ukraine conflict are likely to dominate the talks.
The two sides are also likely to focus on deepening cooperation in areas of civil nuclear energy.
“At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will pay a State visit to India from December 4 to 5 for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit,” the MEA said.
“The forthcoming State visit will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the MEA said in a brief statement.
President Droupadi Murmu will also receive Putin and host a banquet in his honour.
People familiar with Putin’s trip to New Delhi said India is also looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia as the weapons proved to be very effective during the Operation Sindoor.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Three squadrons have already been delivered and the remaining two are expected to be sent by the middle of next year.
There is also a possibility that India may hold talks with the Russian side on the possibility of buying at least two squadrons of the Su-57 fighter jets though New Delhi has not made any final decision on the procurement.
In the energy sector, it is learnt that Russia has offered India additional discounts for its procurement of crude oil.
The offer came after the volume of India’s purchase of Russian crude oil registered a decline in the last few weeks following the latest wave of US sanctions on two Russian oil producers. (PTI)
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