Ø Setting the stage for the next India-Russia
summit meeting, the just-concluded Moscow visit by External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj began the much awaited talks on defence procurement and sensitive
strategic cooperation. Official sources have told The
Hindu that a
major part of Ms. Swaraj’s visit was aimed at smoothening the way for the Inter
Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), which
will be led by Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar from the Indian side.
Sources have indicated that Mr. Parrikar will go on a “stock-taking visit”,
which will assess the fifth generation fighter jet project, the S400 missile
system, and naval co-production plans with Russia. The Sushma Swaraj-Sergey
Lavrov meet in Moscow was an opportunity to discuss frankly stalled strategic
issues. Russia is raising a new division for Afghanistan along the Tajik
border to fight Islamic extremists of Af-Pak that are threatening the modern
governments of Central Asia. Therefore, its partnership with Pakistan is not
expected to last long and that is why India and Russia will work together in
the Afghanistan region. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India
in December 2014 for the annual summit, which was overshadowed by New Delhi’s
enthusiasm for the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama. Experts suggest that
the changed geopolitical circumstances, especially Russian muscle-flexing in
Syria, will add to the “Druzhba-Dosti” of the next India-Russia summit in
Moscow.
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