Post by : Meena Ariff

On Thursday, December 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin will land in New Delhi for a two-day visit, culminating in summit discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 5. This visit marks Putin's first trip to India since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reinforcing the longstanding strategic ties between the nations.

The summit aims to intensify defence collaboration, shield bilateral trade from US-imposed sanctions, and explore avenues for cooperation in nuclear energy, potentially including small modular reactors. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov noted that Russia plans to utilize this dialogue to protect trade relations with India amid US restrictions. Furthermore, the Russian Parliament has sanctioned a significant defence agreement with New Delhi, highlighting the enduring military partnership.

This visit also offers India an opportunity to assert its strategic independence. Despite facing pressure, specifically from the United States regarding Russian energy and military acquisitions, India is committed to nurturing its economic and defence relations with Moscow.

In recent developments, an accord has been completed allowing for the movement of skilled and semi-skilled labour between the countries. Additionally, talks regarding a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union—a bloc that includes Russia—are currently underway to tackle India's needs regarding tariff and non-tariff barriers, aiming to enhance trade avenues.

Further solidifying the bilateral ties, the State Duma recently endorsed the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement, which was originally signed on February 18. Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the State Duma, remarked that this ratification signifies a critical move towards reciprocity and the development of India-Russia bonds, underlining the strategic and all-encompassing nature of their partnership.

The upcoming summit is anticipated to fortify defence, economic, and energy collaborations while addressing challenges arising from international sanctions, thereby confirming the resilience and strategic profundity of India-Russia relations.

#Political News #World News #Trade #PM Modi