New Delhi: In what will be a strong signal to close strategic partner the United States that India’s ties with time-tested friend Russia would remain strong and robust, India will host Russian President Vladimir Putin who will land in New Delhi on October 4 and hold detailed delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the following day on October 5 in New Delhi. India is set to ink a much talked-about contract to acquire S-400 missiles from Russia worth nearly about US$ 6 billion during the visit although Government officials did not confirm whether the deal would indeed be inked during the Presidential visit. India had earlier decided to go ahead with the contract to acquire these missiles from Russia much to the discomfiture of the US whose ties with Moscow are under severe strain.
Caught in a difficult situation, India is however hoping to seek a waiver from the US to escape American sanctions on Russian military exports. India is also hoping to sustain and build on the momentum of the hugely successful informal summit at the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi in May this year between President Putin and PM Modi. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had also visited Russia earlier this month on September 13 and 14. It may be recalled that India and the US had earlier this month held their 2+2 Dialogue at the Foreign and Defence Ministerial level in New Delhi during which India had put across its case firmly to Washington for a waiver on the acquisition of S-400 missiles from Russia.
While defence and civil nuclear sectors are the mainstay of the decedes-long Indo-Russian cooperation, Ms. Swaraj had visited Russia to attend the meeting of the 23rd India-Russia Inter- Governmental Commission on Technical & Economic Cooperation ( IRIGC- TEC) co-chaired by her and Mr. Yuri Borisov, Russian Deputy Prime Minister. IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest. Speaking on India’s proposed S-400 missile deal with Russia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier this month told the American media during his recent visit to New Delhi, “We do understand the history of India’s relationship with Russia and legacy systems. Our effort is not to penalise great strategic partners like India, a major defence partner. The sanctions aren’t intended to adversely impact countries like India. They are intended to have an impact on the sanctioned country which is Russia and so we'll work our way through the waiver decision as the days and weeks proceed and we’ll do that alongside our partner India.”
The Sochi Summit in May between PM Modi and President Putin was widely regarded as having addressed Moscow’s concerns. Indo-Russian ties were seen earlier as having come under some strain because of New Delhi’s growing proximity to Washington. With the sharp deterioration of ties between Russia and the West, experts feel that New Delhi had earlier this year realised somewhere along the way that a perception had crept in that it had grown too close to Washington at the cost of ties with time-tested friend Russia. Moscow too had then considerably softened its stand towards Islamabad, further adding to New Delhi’s discomfort.
But with one masterstroke that the Sochi informal summit was, New Delhi has sought to erase any misconception or negative perceptions in Moscow’s mind and has put the decades-old friendship firmly back on track. The move has also sent a powerful signal to the West that India will not sacrifice its strategic friendship with Russia at any cost. New Delhi has also made it clear that it will continue to acquire weapon systems from Russia despite American sanctions on Russian military exports.
Meanwhile, the MEA in a statement said, “President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, will pay an official visit to New Delhi from October 04-05, 2018, for the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit. During the visit, President Putin will hold official talks with the Prime Minister. He will also have a meeting with the President of India, as well as other official engagements. The last Annual Summit was held on June 1, 2017 during the visit of Prime Minister to Russia.”
