NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, reaffirmed India’s support for Russia and highlighted the immense potential of the India-Russia partnership. Both leaders expressed confidence that their collaboration would pave the way for “remarkable outcomes” in the future.
“Despite geopolitical challenges and great pressure on India, both in public and in private, India has made a conscious decision that the country will not only continue close contacts with Russia but will also deepen and expand our interaction. We will always be with our Russian colleagues,” Singh said as quoted by Russian defence ministry.
Conveying warm greetings from PM Modi, Singh reiterated India’s longstanding support for Russia. “Friendship between our countries is higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean,” Singh told Putin.
The Russian President reciprocated by highlighting the trust underpinning bilateral ties and congratulated Singh on the commissioning of INS Tushil, a Russian-manufactured guided missile frigate, into the Indian Navy in Kaliningrad.
Singh highlighted India’s robust defence ties with Russia, emphasising opportunities for joint production of military hardware as part of the countries’ special and privileged strategic partnership.
Rajnath Singh also urged Russia to expedite the delivery of the remaining two units of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems during wide-ranging talks with Russian defence minister Andrey Belousov in Moscow.
Singh co-chaired the 21st session of the India-Russia inter-governmental commission on military and military technical cooperation with Belousov. The talks covered bilateral defence collaboration, including maintenance and servicing of the S-400 systems in India.
Russia has already delivered three regiments of the S-400 systems, with the pending units critical to India’s defence capabilities. Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening its domestic defence industry through international partnerships, the defence ministry said.
Earlier in Moscow, Singh laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, commemorating Soviet soldiers who died in World War II. He also inspected a guard of honour at the Russian defence ministry.