PM Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin
Highlight
- Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit India today
- During the summit, India and Russia are expected to sign more than 10 agreements
- India and Russia will also hold first 2+2 dialogue
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India today (December 6) to hold the 21st annual India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will be the first one-on-one meeting between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in November 2019.
Vladimir Putin decided to go ahead with the visit despite the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, which has affected the schedule of several bilateral and international summits.
During the summit, India and Russia are set to enter into several agreements to further boost cooperation in key areas of defence, trade and investment, energy and technology. The annual summit is a time for the two leaders to re-examine the long-standing relationship.
Ahead of the annual summit, India and Russia will also hold the first 2+2 dialogue which is to be held at the level of foreign and defense ministers.
In the inaugural ‘2+2’ Defense and Foreign Ministerial Dialogue alongside the summit, the two sides are also expected to focus on the situation in Afghanistan and the growing threat of terrorism, including from groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish. -e-Mohammed.
It is learned that the joint statement to be issued after the summit is likely to reflect India’s concerns on cross-border terrorism and the security implications arising out of the Afghan crisis.
While Putin will reach Delhi on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu are arriving on Sunday night.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi and President Putin will start the summit at 5:30 pm and the Russian leader will take off from Delhi at 9:30 pm.
Ahead of the summit, India has approved the long-pending AK 203 Kalashnikov rifle deal worth around Rs 5,000 crore for production of over five lakh such rifles at Korwa in Amethi by an India-Russia joint venture.
The two sides are also expected to conclude final stages of talks for a logistics support agreement, which is likely to be signed either during the two-plus-two talks or at the summit.
In a reflection of their time-tested defense ties, India and Russia are set to renew a framework for military-technical cooperation at the summit, apart from announcing a Joint Commission on Technology and Science for the next decade.
The two sides are also likely to consider a number of defense procurement proposals apart from discussing the long-pending project for joint production of 200 twin-engined Kamov-226T light helicopters for the Indian Armed Forces.
According to sources, India is expected to convey to the Russian side its position along the eastern Ladakh border line as well as its concerns on various regional developments.
Asked about any possible role of Russia in resolving the dispute, the sources said India has always believed in resolving bilateral issues.
Sources said President Putin’s decision to visit India despite the current COVID-19 situation in Russia shows the importance he attaches to ties with India.
Referring to the important meetings one after the other, a source said, “December 6 will be Full Russia Day.”
The day will begin with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s talks with his Russian counterpart Shoygu under the framework of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will separately hold talks with his Russian counterpart Lavrov. Then the foreign and defense ministers of both sides will hold ‘2+2’ dialogue at 11:30 am.
Prime Minister Modi and President Putin will face-to-face ahead of the 21st India-Russia summit. A dinner will also be organized for the Russian leader.
Sources said the agreements to be signed will cover a range of sectors including trade, energy, culture, defense and technology.
Sources said that apart from government-to-government agreements, several other agreements have also been finalized on the sidelines of the summit.
“Despite global geopolitical changes, our relations with Russia have remained very stable,” another source said.
On cooperation in the areas of defence, sources said both sides are ready to focus on co-production and co-development of military equipment and platforms.
Referring to investment ties, he said that the target of USD 30 billion has already been achieved in 2018 and the focus is now on increasing it to USD 50 billion by 2025.
Asked about Russia’s strong opposition to the Quad of India, the US, Japan and Australia, sources said New Delhi does not belong to any camp and is extending issue-based support based on the evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific. Is.
He said Russia appreciates India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific. On India-Russia trade, he said efforts would be made to diversify trade ties, which have so far dominated cooperation in the energy sector. “We are looking for new drivers of growth.
Sources said India is also keen to boost trade ties with Russia’s Far East and 11 governors of the region have been invited for the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat summit.
The last India-Russia annual summit was held in September 2019 during Modi’s visit to Vladivostok. Last year the annual summit could not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both countries have a mechanism under which the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia hold a summit annually to review the entire gamut of relations.
So far 20 annual summits have been held alternately in India and Russia.
(with inputs from agencies)
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