By Sangeeta Saxena
New Delhi. 06 December 2021. It was visible warmth and palpable excitement when Russia and India signed an agreement on military-technical cooperation until 2031. The document was signed in the presence of the two Defence Ministers General of the Army Sergei Shoigu and Rajnath Singh. And the most important news was India and Russia signed the agreements for the procurement of 6,01,427 7.63x39mm assault rifles AK-203 through Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd, under the military-technical cooperation arrangement for 2021-31.
The agreement was signed by the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugaev for 2021-2031. This 10 year Defence Cooperation Program outlines the ongoing defence cooperation and future possible cooperation between the two countries. Such agreements are being signed since 1994. This signing today was a part of the 2+2 India-Russia Dialogue coinciding with the Indo-Russian Annual Summit.
The agreement implies cooperation between branches of the armed forces, and also affects the supply and development of weapons and military equipment. Russian Defence Minister noted that at present, Russian-Indian cooperation in the military and military-technical fields occupies a special place in relations between the two countries and continues to develop steadily. The meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military and military-technical cooperation started today.
Rajnath Singh stated, “India deeply appreciates Russia’s strong support for India. We hope that our cooperation will bring peace, prosperity and stability to the entire region. Glad that a number of Agreements/Contracts/Protocols were signed pertaining to small arms and military cooperation.”
Another agreement between India and Russia has been signed on Protocol on amending the agreement on cooperation in the field of Kalashnikov series small arms manufacturing dated back to February 18, 2019.
“I am convinced that the dialogue between the foreign policy and defense departments of the two countries will make a serious contribution to the formation of an atmosphere of mutual trust and the provision of global and regional security,” Sergei Shoigu said. “Today, within the framework of the 20th anniversary meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission, my colleague, Minister of Defence of India, Mr. Singh, discussed in detail the issues of cooperation in the defense sphere. We have outlined plans for joint work for the future , ” the Russian minister said.
“India is one of Russia’s key partners in the defense sphere, and bilateral relations are of a particularly privileged strategic nature. The unprecedented level of trust between our countries is evidenced by the intensity and depth of military-technical cooperation, which every year reaches a new qualitative level, “said Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu at the beginning of the meeting. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also noted the depth of Russian-Indian relations. According to him, today’s meetings once again underline the strategic partnership between Russia and India.
The defence sector is one of the main areas of Russian-Indian cooperation and, despite the difficult epidemiological situation, cooperation between Russia and India in this direction is actively developing, Sergei Shoigu added. “Regular meetings of the leaders of our countries, the next of which will take place today, are vivid evidence of multifaceted bilateral relations developing in the spirit of a particularly privileged strategic partnership,” he said.
“For many years we have been fruitfully in contact at all levels. The defense sector is one of the main areas of Russian-Indian cooperation. Despite the difficult epidemiological situation, the interaction of the general staffs and the branches of the armed forces is strengthening, the exchange of military delegations is expanding. Work is underway in the field of military education, ”the minister continued. He stressed that joint operational and combat training activities occupy a special place in military cooperation.
“The Indra series exercises and participation in the International Army Games are a clear example of the military coordination and commonwealth of the armies of Russia and India,” said the Russian Minister.
He also said that Russia and India maintain close military contacts in multilateral formats, primarily within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Meeting of ASEAN Ministers of Defense and Dialogue Partners (SMOA Plus).
“The unprecedented level of trust between our countries is evidenced by the intensity and depth of military-technical cooperation, which is reaching a new qualitative level every year. We are focused on fruitful joint work,” he added .
