Indian official: New Delhi will not stop defense cooperation with Russia.
According to CNBC, the Indian Minister of State for Defense Affairs, during his speech at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that defense cooperation between India and Russia has gone through ups and downs, and said: “We do not intend to stop this cooperation with Moscow.”
He also stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in early December will focus on broader aspects of defense cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow, adding: “The discussions between the parties during this visit may also include the possibility of a new order for the S-400 air defense system.”
Singh further noted that the Indian Ministry of Defense is seeking a 20 percent increase in its budget next year to meet the country’s defense needs.
According to IRNA, senior officials of the Indian and Russian armed forces earlier held a meeting in New Delhi, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and exploring new opportunities for military cooperation and exchange of weapons technologies.
The talks were held as part of the fifth meeting of the Working Group on Military Cooperation under the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military Cooperation and Exchange of Weapons Technologies.
According to Indian officials, during the meeting, the ongoing defense cooperation programs between the two countries were reviewed and the progress in various areas of arms partnership between New Delhi and Moscow was assessed.