Expressing “concern” in regards to the state of affairs in Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday marked the “fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime” as key challenges on which the 2 international locations ought to cooperate. Will must do
“We proceed to collaborate collectively on the worldwide agenda … our place is sort of comparable … battle in opposition to terrorismWe are additionally combating drug trafficking and arranged crime,” Putin stated, heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier than the beginning of their bilateral assembly.
“It is natural that we are concerned about the development of the situation in Afghanistan,” the Russian president stated in his inaugural deal with.
He referred to as India a “great power”, a “friendly” nation and a “time-tested friend”.
Modi stated, ‘Despite the challenges posed by Kovid, there was no change within the tempo of improvement of India-Russia relations. Our particular and privileged strategic partnership continues to develop stronger.”
“In the last few decades, the world has seen many fundamental changes and various types of geopolitical equations have emerged, but the friendship between India and Russia remained stable,” the Prime Minister stated, including that the connection between India and Russia is certainly One is exclusive and distinctive. A dependable mannequin of inter-state friendship”.
Putin, who arrived in New Delhi on Monday night, met Modi at Hyderabad House, hours after the primary India-Russia 2+2 ministerial assembly between the overseas and protection ministers occurred.
So far, India’s conferences with the US, Japan and Australia have been a 2+2 format – all members of the Quad Grouping.
India signed 4 agreements with Russia as the 2 international locations started their first 2+2 ministerial talks on Monday morning. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu and the 2 sides signed two contracts for the manufacture of round 6 lakh AK 203 rifles underneath a three way partnership in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, which the federal government lastly agreed to in just a few days. already accepted. The deal is value greater than Rs 5000 crore.
Singh additionally raised the problem of China’s aggressive stand on the northern border throughout the 2+2 assembly. He stated that the “pandemic, extraordinary militarization and weapons expansion in our neighborhood and completely unprovoked aggression on our northern border since the summer of 2020 have posed many challenges” and added that India is working to beat these challenges. is satisfied. With his robust political will and the inherent capability of his folks”.
In addition to the Kalashnikov Rifles settlement, the 2 international locations additionally signed the Protocol of the twentieth India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technology Cooperation and Military and Military Technical Cooperation for the subsequent decade from 2021 to 2031. IRIGC-M&MTC).
The 2+2 was preceded by the IRIGC-M&MTC assembly, wherein Singh led the Indian delegation, which additionally included Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, the Chiefs of the three Services and different senior officers of the Ministry of Defence.
In his opening remarks on the assembly, Singh stated Russia is India’s long-standing particular and privileged strategic companion with a time-tested relationship primarily based on shared pursuits in multilateralism, world peace and prosperity, mutual understanding and belief.
He appreciated Russia’s “strong support for India” and stated the shut cooperation was not focused in opposition to every other nation. He stated that protection cooperation is likely one of the most necessary pillars of the bilateral partnership. The IRIGC-M&MTC “has a well-established mechanism for the past two decades” and “provides a forum to discuss and implement a mutually agreed agenda for defense cooperation”.
Singh described the primary ever India-Russia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue as a particular initiative taken by the leaders of the 2 international locations, indicating the excessive relevance and wish for cooperation between the 2 international locations.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov individually. Jaishankar stated they’re assembly “at a critical juncture in the global geopolitical environment, which is in great flux, especially after the COVID 19 pandemic”.
“As close friends and strategic partners, India and Russia are working together to safeguard our common interests and ensure peace, progress and prosperity for our peoples. Our relationship has been close and the test of time. In a world that has changed so much, they have been exceptionally stable,” he stated.
“Our dialogue at present will deal with the emergence of multipolarity and the rebalancing we see of the results of centralized globalisation. The COVID 19 pandemic has raised questions in regards to the present mannequin of world affairs, however long-standing challenges stay even. that new emerge, chief amongst them terrorism, violent extremism and extremism. The state of affairs in Afghanistan, together with in Central Asia, has wide-ranging penalties. In West Asia, the Middle East continues to current hotspots. Maritime safety and safety a typical concern. There is one other space. We each share a typical curiosity in ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-driven boards.”
Lavrov stated that each Russia and India have a “common worldview of a more multi-centred, more multipolar, more equitable world order.”
“We advocate equal or equal positions on the most important political and military issues, we speak in favor of international law. By applying the collective principle of international affairs, we adhere to the principle of non-interference and the domestic affairs of other countries And we have great respect for the cultural and civilizational diversity of our world, ”stated the Russian Foreign Minister.
Singh tweeted after assembly Shoigu that the 2 leaders had “fruitful, fruitful and substantial bilateral discussions on defense cooperation” and stated “India values its special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia”.
In a second tweet, he stated, “India deeply appreciates Russia’s strong support for India. We hope that our cooperation will bring peace, prosperity and stability to the entire region.”
Singh additionally stated that he was “glad” that “several agreements/contracts/protocols relating to small arms and military cooperation were signed”.
During 2+2, Singh additionally stated, “Recognizing that its development needs are enormous and that its defense challenges are legitimate, real and urgent, India seeks partners who are sensitive to India’s expectations and needs.” and be accountable”.
He expressed appreciation that “despite all these challenges, India-Russia defense relations have progressed in an unprecedented manner in recent times” and added that he expects Russia to stay a key companion for India in these altering circumstances.
“To the Defense Ministry, we have urged for greater military-technical cooperation, advanced research, co-development and co-production of defense equipment for India’s self-reliance. Separately, we have proposed greater engagement in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean region,” he stated.
One of the large ticket protection offers between the 2 international locations contains the acquisition of 5 items of India’s S-400 Triumph air protection system, the deliveries of which have already began. A deal value US$5.5 billion was signed in 2018.
Russia has been one of many largest arms exporters to India. Even Russia’s share in India’s arms imports fell by greater than 50 per cent within the final five-year interval as in comparison with the earlier 5 years (2011-2015). According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks the worldwide arms commerce, India has imported US$35 billion in arms and weapons from Russia over the previous 20 years.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
