Putin arrives; over 15 deals on cards

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 10

Foundations of the India-Russia strategic partnership will be reinforced and strengthened during the annual summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here tomorrow with accent on nuclear energy and hydrocarbons.

President Putin’s visit comes at a time when Russia is under sanctions from the United States and its Western allies over the Ukraine crisis, a move that India does not endorse.

The summit meeting will the first between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi, though it would be the third time the two leaders would be interacting after they met on the sidelines of BRICS in Brazil and G-20 in Australia.

Ahead of his visit, President Putin told the media that a “Strategic vision of strengthening Russian-Indian cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy’’ would be signed on Thursday.

Sources in the government said at least 15 to 20 agreements, including one in the field of media, could be signed at the summit with Russians stating that the country is keen on taking forward negotiations on the Kudankulam nuclear power project phase 3-4 as it looks to set up about 20 to 24 nuclear units in the country.

Besides seeking to augment nuclear energy, India is also keen on increasing its sources of supplies of hydrocarbons and New Delhi has already made investments in oil exploration projects in Sakhalin, Russia. The Russians are eager to divert gas supplies from the Western markets to Asia. Both sides have been talking of connecting through a land route via Iran to Russian ports.

India and Russia have a long-standing defence cooperation and Moscow continues to be one of the largest suppliers of military hardware. However, over the last three decades, India has sought to source it from other countries. First, New Delhi has entered into co-development of Brahmos missile and now the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft.

Besides the summit, both leaders will address CEOs and attend the World Diamond Conference. President Putin will call on President Pranab Mukherjee before concluding his less than 24-hour visit to New Delhi.