Russia a Source of Strength, Success for India - Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj

[Rajesh Singh]

In a clear display of India's foreign relations priority, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took part in celebrations marking Russia's national day in New Delhi. On the occasion, Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev described the Indo-Russian connection as a building block of regional and international cooperation.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has described the relationship between her country and Russia as that of being nurtured by "unmatched reciprocal support." The Indian foreign minister was the chief guest at the Russia Day celebrations on 12 June at the Russian embassy in New Delhi.

"Russia has been a source of strength and success for India in defense, development, and diplomacy. It is not only on the bilateral front, but also in the regional, plurilateral, and global arena that India and Russia coordinate closely and have similar approaches. Rightly called special and privileged, the relationship has greatly benefitted the people of our two countries," read the message by Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, congratulating Russia on its national day.

The foreign minister said that India is committed to further strengthening this unique relationship in all facets of engagement.

"Linkages have grown from strength to strength over the years, characterized by unmatched reciprocal support to each other‘s core interests. They have been nurtured by the leadership and the people of both the countries. Sentiments of mutual trust and friendship were visible in the informal summit between our Prime Minister Modi and President Putin in Sochi Last month," the message further read.

The Indian Foreign Minister also wished Russia the best in hosting the FIFA world cup.

READ MORE: India-Russia Defense Ties Unhindered by US Sanctions — Indian Defense Minister

Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev told Sputnik in an exclusive interview that the India-Russia partnership has assumed renewed vigor after the meeting between President Putin and Indian Prime Minister in Sochi recently.


"It's a strategic partnership with India, a country where I am lucky to be an ambassador. Very recently we had an informal summit in Sochi where Indian Prime Minister Modi and President Putin met. This reaffirms and revives the commitment of both sides to the special and privileged partnership. The Sochi summit resulted into many new understandings and agreements in politics, defense, economy and culture," Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said.

© SPUTNIK / EUGENE ODINOKOV
Russia Welcomes 400% More Indian Tourists This Summer
The ambassador was of the opinion that the emergence of India and Russia as global powers will strengthen cooperation and security in Eurasia.


"The future of India-Russia relations is bright. The influence of Russia is growing and this is also the case with India. India is more and more introducing itself as a regional power and as a global power and it fits well into our larger Eurasia project where all the countries of Eurasia could develop friendly political and economic cooperation and security for this part of the world which is very much needed," Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said.

READ MORE: Indians Marvel at Russian Past Through Works of Great Writers

The ambassador also spoke at length about how the evolving international scenario has reinforced the mutual understanding that India and Russia have.

"With the international situation evolving, there is a new atmosphere of mutual understanding, trust and confidence between us. There are many new elements to it. Elements of certainty as well as elements of uncertainty but the Russia-India connection remains a building block of regional and international relations," the ambassador added.

© SPUTNIK /
Russia Day, New Delhi 2
Ambassador Kudashev took the occasion to reiterate Russia's commitment to the concept of a multi-polar world.

"The Russian national day is the re-emergence of Russia as an independent state. Partnering with the international community, Russia remains committed to the principles and values of democracy and a multi-polar world. Non-aggressive commitment to international law is one of the basic pillars of our foreign policy," Ambassador Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev told Sputnik.
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201806131065366840-russia-india-relations/

 

[indianfighter1999]

russians sell India cheapest military equipment and then focks Indians with after sales service charging multiple times the price of the equipment sometimes I have heard 400 times in the lifespan.

Thats why Indian military is pissed and want much less dependency on russian equipment, S-400 when its comes if doesnt have Indian manufacturing involved the initials 5 billion will cost Indians 10 times more in lifespan

 

[Rajesh Singh]

russians sell India cheapest military equipment and then focks Indians with after sales service charging multiple times the price of the equipment sometimes I have heard 400 times in the lifespan.

Thats why Indian military is pissed and want much less dependency on russian equipment, S-400 when its comes if doesnt have Indian manufacturing involved the initials 5 billion will cost Indians 10 times more in lifespan

So, what do you think?

US is best partner for defense sector? Will USA give latest technology under TOT? Will US give nuclear technology for Submarine, power plant and help in missile system?

As per my understanding, Please don't compare between Apple and Mango..... Russia is best when you talk about reliable source unlike US, About US .. you can take some experienced from Pakistan and ask to Pakistani friends..

As per indian policy, they will try to buy latest technology and arms, only those are not available from Russia. We are not buying US arms because we want to join US camp but we are buying because we don't have option to buy these latest technology from somewhere else

 

[indianfighter1999]

So, what do think?

US is best partner for defense sector? Will USA give latest technology under TOT? Will US give nuclear technology for Submarine, power plant and help in missile system?

As per my understanding, Please don't compare between Apple and Mango..... Russia is best when you talk about reliable source unlike US, About US .. you can take some experienced Pakistan and Pakistani friends..

As per indian policy, they will try to buy latest technology and arms, only those are not available from Russia. We are not buying US arms because we want to join US camp but we are buying because we don't have option to buy these latest technology from somewhere else

i never said that Us is better partner, but the sales and support from usa is much professional and as per signed agreement no delays unless politica is involved.
And Usa will never give India tech or latest this is fact no replacing the russians here as russians will sell their latest to chinese Indians turks pakistanis somalians for money.
All I am saying Indian military wants to diversify their defense imports.

 

[Rajesh Singh]

i never said that Us is better partner, but the sales and support from usa is much professional and as per signed agreement no delays unless politica is involved.
And Usa will never give India tech or latest this is fact no replacing the russians here as russians will sell their latest to chinese Indians turks pakistanis somalians for money.
All I am saying Indian military wants to diversify their defense imports.

Agreed on bold point but the way US works, they can sanction you at the time, you needed them most and specially, their hardware part and support during the WAR or emergency..

And these latest equipment will be become junk within 2-3 years once they sanctioned on you.

 

[indianfighter1999]

Agreed on bold point but they way US works, they can sanction you at the time, you needed them most and specially, their hardware part and support during the WAR or emergency..

And these latest equipment will be become junk within 2-3 years once they sanctioned on you.

thats why India buys US spares in bulk.

 

[beijingwalker]

There is a clear sign that Russia no longer trusts India due to its warming up towards US and starts to move towards Pakistan for an alternative counterweight against US in this region.

 

[Dash]

There is a clear sign that Russia no longer trusts India due to its warming up towards US and starts to move towards Pakistan for an alternative counterweight against US in this region.

What makes you say so? Are you a close observer of India Russia relations or just a generic statement of no substance?

 

[Tshering22]

There are a few things which we must seriously pursue with Russia in order to make our relations more meaningful other than just defence purchases:

1- We should designate critical ports for duty-free import and export of each others' goods. It is very difficult to find Russian products in the general market these days. Doesn't really speak well for the trade.

2- There should be deeper R&D in scientific ventures with a cross-funding corporate-government model framework whereby Indian and Russian corporates can fund each others' joint innovative projects. For this, a joint corpus needs to be assigned.

3- We need to expedite the North-South Corridor with Iran as soon as possible. The longer we delay it the worse it will get.

4- Establish a single-window clearance for clearing each others' goods and products. On a special priority basis.

5- Expedite oil pipeline projects from Russian oil fields.

There is a lot of commercial opportunity which we are missing and that has to be changed.

thats why India buys US spares in bulk.

We unfortunately don't even have a reverse-engineering capability right now. SO even if parts were to be sanctioned, we could always make them on our own and fly them.

That is where China excelled and we failed. Their biggest strength is that they can rebuild, make and remanufacture any defence product today in a matter of weeks. We can't.

russians sell India cheapest military equipment and then focks Indians with after sales service charging multiple times the price of the equipment sometimes I have heard 400 times in the lifespan.

Thats why Indian military is pissed and want much less dependency on russian equipment, S-400 when its comes if doesnt have Indian manufacturing involved the initials 5 billion will cost Indians 10 times more in lifespan

Till the time we are dependent on outsiders completely, we cannot call any shots. Please note that the only solution for that kind of no-strings-attached policy is self-reliance. Which our government and top army folks don't believe in.

 

[beijingwalker]

What makes you say so? Are you a close observer of India Russia relations or just a generic statement of no substance?

Dont tell me you dont see ithat Russia and Pakistan are getting closer by the day. Google and find tons of related articles.

 

[Rajesh Singh]

Dont tell me you dont see ithat Russia and Pakistan are getting closer by the day. Google and find tons of related articles.

???

If russia is doing business with Pakistan then no one will mind. Till Russia sell any latest technology, please just keep these foolish Pakistani thinking China-Russia-Pakistan Axis ................ Reality if very far from this

 

[sputnik]

Dont tell me you dont see ithat Russia and Pakistan are getting closer by the day. Google and find tons of related articles.

Russia can get closer to anyone they want. But ways & Means of strategic partnership/Friendship completely changed now specially after Syrian conflict where Russia is there with all its might and still they came up wth reason like
S-400 was not active tht time, Israel targeting Syrian positions and not ours & blah blah.

In today's world either you are on your own OR you are nobody. Just buy - Sell and move on.

So whtever Indian MEA is saying is Just lip service and will not hold much for either of us.

 

[Asimzranger]

 

[Dash]

Dont tell me you dont see ithat Russia and Pakistan are getting closer by the day. Google and find tons of related articles.

Googling is the last resort of uneducated. And you just proved it.

 

[beijingwalker]

Googling is the last resort of uneducated. And you just proved it.

Happy to know you don't use google to find news. The truth is google is not always accurate but still way better than your Indian minister's statements some of which claims that cows breathe in Carbon dioxide and out oxygen.