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New Delhi: Government sources said India is buying Russian S-400 missile systems despite the threat of US sanctions to keep the country’s national security interests under the principle of “strategic autonomy”.
The $5.43 billion deal, as part of the major defense partnership between India and Russia, is expected to be the focus of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on Monday for the annual India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Before the summit, New Delhi and Moscow will have a 2+2 dialogue for the first time. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu met their Indian counterparts External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defense Minister will meet Rajnath Singh.
An official said on condition of anonymity that the S-400 deal invites the risk of US sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), but India believes the missiles will be used in its “national security interests”. “It is necessary.
The deal was signed in October 2018, but several issues are yet to be resolved, including delivery schedules, delivery of parts and assembly units of the missiles. Sources said these issues will be discussed in the 2+2 talks as well as in the summit.
In addition to the S-400 deal, advanced defence, energy and trade ties are also being discussed at the annual summit. A mutual exchange of logistics agreement is also expected to be signed.
Read also: US unlikely to impose CAATSA sanctions on India for S-400, but other Russian deals won’t be easy
‘Relationship at its peak’
According to government sources, the convening of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation will have an important outcome.
Besides this, ahead of the visit of the Russian delegation, the Modi government has also approved a plan to produce over 5 lakh units of AK-203 assault rifles in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi under the India-Russia joint project, a second source said. said.
“If there is one country with which 2+2 was needed, it is Russia because both sides have broad engagement in all aspects,” the official said.
President Vladimir Putin last visited India in 2018 for the annual summit.
A third official said, “President Putin is coming here despite the current epidemiological situation in Russia … Our relationship has been at its best despite geopolitical changes.”
Sources said a number of agreements are expected to be signed in defence, trade and energy sectors during the summit.
At least 10 agreements are likely to be signed during Monday’s summit, according to Yuti Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president.
“About 10 bilateral agreements will be signed, which are quite important and include some semi-confidential ones… those are still in the works. We are confident that a package of agreements will be signed as part of the visit.” TassiA Russian news agency quoted Ushakov as saying.
business and energy partnership
On bilateral trade, the summit is likely to discuss initiating formal talks for a free trade agreement between India and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
The EAEU, formed in 2015, consists of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Sources said India and Russia will also discuss increasing their participation in the civil nuclear deal, while construction of more reactors at the Kudankulam nuclear plant will be started.
(Edited by Amit Upadhyay)
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