President Vladimir Putin is visiting Delhi today to deepen India’s decades-long alliance with Russia. Because of the Corona issue, Putin’s visit to India has been cut short, to just a few hours, but it will have a significant impact on not only the bilateral relationship, but also on India’s neighbours, such as China and Pakistan.
Putin may reach India at 2 pm
According to reliable sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Delhi in the afternoon and will spend only 6-7 hours in India. Talks between the two countries will take place on a variety of levels throughout this time. Following two plus two meetings between the two countries’ foreign and defence ministers, President Putin will attend the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in Delhi at 5.30 p.m. Due to security concerns, the exact time of President Putin’s arrival in India has not been published, but it is expected that he will arrive around 2 p.m. and depart for Russia at 9.30 p.m.
Many important issues are going to be discussed in this visit of Putin, in which-
- India produced 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles.
- Delivery of the S-400 missile system on time
- 12 new Sukhoi-30 aircraft are being delivered to the Navy, as well as a new consignment of MiG-29 aircraft.
- 5000 Igla-S shoulder-fired missiles are being procured.
- Tensions between India and China; terrorism in Afghanistan
- The problem of bilateral commerce is also crucial.
- India will produce the AK-203 assault weapon.
Let us remind you that India suggested buying 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles in front of Russia in February 2019 under the Inter-Governmental Agreement. These rifles were supposed to be built in India under the Make in India programme, but due to a variety of obstacles, including a lack of technology transfer, manufacturing at the factory in Amethi has yet to begin. The Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs just authorised this Rs 5000 crore contract, clearing all concerns, and this agreement with Russia will be publicly approved today.
Why is China and America angry?
The timely supply and deployment of the S-400 missile system can also be discussed at PM Modi and Putin’s discussions. This missile air defence system is critical for India since it can hit any aerial target up to 400 kilometres away. India inked an agreement with Russia in 2018 to buy five batteries for this system, and deliveries began before Putin’s arrival, but the transaction has angered both the US and China. China is enraged because the Chinese army does not want India to duplicate the Russian air defence system stationed near the LAC. At the same time, the United States views this missile system as a threat to itself, and has put penalties on a number of countries, including Turkey, for purchasing the S-400. India, on the other hand, has already stated that it will not submit to external pressure. By doing so, India hopes to reclaim the trust of an old friend who had been disturbed by the Quad’s establishment and proximity to America.
Experts predict that during this journey, President Putin would make a pitch to India for the sale of the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet Checkmate, which was just unveiled. How serious Russia is about India is also evident from the fact that, following the Corona issue, Putin will embark on a foreign tour, with India as his first stop.
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