India is gradually giving up weapons from Russia

After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India is trying to distance itself from its largest arms supplier – Moscow – and is slowly turning towards the West, the Reuters agency wrote on Sunday, citing sources in Delhi.

At the same time, it is mentioned in the publication that Moscow will supply ammunition and equipment, which is limited because of the war, and that the United States is now trying to strengthen its ties in the Indo-Pacific region, hoping to contain China, which is gaining strength, and at the same time reduce India’s traditional dependence on Russia.

Last year, Delhi and Washington signed an agreement that will allow General Electric to produce jet engines for Indian fighters in India. The two countries plan to accelerate technological cooperation and joint production in various areas – from combat capabilities in the air to reconnaissance. But the further development of their ties causes concern from China, since the Indian and Chinese armies are involved in a confrontation on the border in the Himalayas. India should also act cautiously so as not to push Moscow to an even greater rapprochement with Beijing.

According to the Stockholm Institute for the Study of Peace Problems, over the past two decades, Russia provided 65% of India’s arms purchases worth more than $60 billion. But the war in Ukraine gave an additional impetus to the diversification of the Indian military segment.

“We are unlikely to sign any major military deal with Moscow,” Reuters quoted Nandan Unnikrishnan, an expert on Russia from the Observer Research Foundation research center in Delhi, as saying. The expert called such a deal “a red line for Washington.” “Trade with Russia in the field of energy and other areas will help keep Russia as far away from China as possible,” the analyst added.

From 2022, India is considered one of the largest importers of Russian oil, Reuters notes.

Russia has publicly urged India to intensify defense ties, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused his attention on domestic production using Western technologies, experts and officials cited by Reuters said. In particular, four anonymous sources in the Indian government reported that Russia offered to supply Sukhoi and MiG fighters with the possibility of joint production in India.

Reuters writes that the ministries of foreign affairs and defense of India and Russia did not respond to the agency’s requests for comment.

• India belongs to the group of countries that take a neutral position in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Dely avoids condemning Russian actions, declaring his assistance in ending the war through diplomacy and dialogue.