Moscow: – Russia is starting to supply the S-400 air defence system to India. Moreover, soon this system will be a part of the Indian fleet. In October 2018, India and Russia signed an agreement to purchase ‘S-400 Triumph’ for $5.4 billion. India demonstrated the courage to go ahead with the deal, disregarding the threat of US sanctions. The Biden administration has not announced any intention of imposing sanctions against India for executing this transaction. Against this background, the agreement for the supply of S-400 between India and Russia demonstrates that the foundation of the strategic partnership between the two countries is solid.
Along with the United States, Japan and Australia, India is also preparing to start Two-Plus-Two talks with Russia. Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries participate in the Two-Plus-Two talks. These talks planned between India and Russia, under the current scenario, become important. Along with this, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in December. Russia has announced the India visit of President Putin. On the one hand, Russia is cooperating fully with China, against the front of the United States and its allies. It is bitterly opposing the US policies.
But on the other hand, Russia has delivered a clear message that although China poses a threat to Indian security, Russia’s friendship with China will not affect its relations with India. Russia has upset China by selling the S-400 system to India. China is not happy with this Indo-Russian transaction. Despite this, Russian officials said that Russia has an independent consideration for relations with India, giving a clear indication that Russia will not pay any heed to Chinese pressure. Even during the conflict between India and China, on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, Russia has offered to supply all the necessary weapons, including the S-400 air defence system. Despite all this, Russia had opposed the Indian participation in the QUAD cooperation between India, the United States, Japan and Australia. Russian Foreign Minister had invited Indian resentment criticising the Indian participation in the QUAD cooperation. Although Lavrov expressed regret over the criticism in due course of time, it has been observed several times that Russia is disturbed with the Indian participation in QUAD and the military cooperation developing between India and the United States. However, time and again, India has asserted that the developing military cooperation with the United States will not affect the friendly relations between India and Russia.
Moreover, the leaders of both countries have repeatedly said that although India and Russia have differences on specific issues, the relations, cooperation and trust shared by the two countries cannot be compared to any other relationship. Following the US military withdrawal, the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan has become a cause of concern for both India and Russia. This concern was reflected in the meeting convened by India on the Afghanistan issue. Russia and Iran, along with the central Asian countries under Russian influence, participated in the meeting and it is being said that the meeting was successful due to that. The concerns are mainly being expressed in Pakistan over the success of the Indian meeting. Pakistani journalists are raising a question ‘Will India once again succeed in increasing its influence in Afghanistan, with help from Russia and Iran?’
Against this background, the India-Russia strategic cooperation seems to have gained phenomenal importance. In this scenario, the report received regarding the S-400 supply underlines the friendly cooperation between India and Russia.
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