Doval meets Russian Dy PM, discusses military cooperation

In the backdrop of the US-imposed punitive tariffs, India and Russia on Friday discussed military-cooperation besides manufacturing of civilian aircraft and metallurgy — the science of merging different metals to make guns, aircraft parts and engines.

This was part of the discussion National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had with Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on Friday. On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone and re-affirmed a commitment to “deepen” the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Doval, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, on Thursday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the bilateral ties between both nations. He also emphasised India’s commitment to continuing its cooperation with Russia despite outside pressure, referring to the additional tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on New Delhi for purchasing Russian crude oil.

The Russian embassy in India on Saturday posted details of the Doval-Manturov meeting, saying “they discussed topical issues of Russia-India military-technical cooperation, as well as the implementation of joint projects in other strategic sectors, including civil aircraft manufacturing, metallurgy and the chemical industry”. New Delhi’s war-machine is majorly sourced from Russia and this includes large fleets of fighter jets, tanks, rifles, helicopters and the S-400 air defence system, besides the partnership for the BrahMos missile, which proved its efficacy during Operation Sindoor.

India and Russia have a joint venture to produce the BrahMos missile in India. A majority of the Sukhoi 30 MKI jets were produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. T-90 tanks are produced at a factory near Chennai while the AK 203 Rifle is made at a facility near Lucknow.

Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in its annual report on March 10 this year, said during 2020-2024, India was second-largest importer of weapons globally. Russia, supplied 36 per cent of these imports.