Moscow and New Delhi agreed to intensify international and bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including military and military-technical cooperation
Following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow (July 8-9), the Kremlin unveiled the most significant provisions of the joint Russian-Indian declaration, which envisages further development of strategic cooperation between the two friendly countries. Russia and India will continue cooperation within G20, BRICS, and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on all key issues on the global agenda.
This was detailed in a joint statement issued a day after the summit between Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The parties agreed to continue interaction in the G20, BRICS, SCO organizations on such key issues as increasing the sustainability of international supply chains, compliance with free and fair-trade rules, and combating the negative effects of climate change,” the statement says. The document emphasizes that relations between the two countries remain “stable” despite the “complex and uncertain geopolitical situation.”
A special chapter was devoted to the development of cooperation in the defense sphere. Russia and India will develop military and military-technical cooperation, considering it “a priority of their strategic partnership.” Given India’s desire to achieve self-sufficiency in all aspects of defense, “the partnership with Russia is now focused on joint development and production of advanced defense technologies and systems,” the declaration says. The sides reaffirmed their desire to increase the number of military cooperation activities and expand the exchange of military delegations.
At the same time, Moscow and New Delhi “agreed to take further measures to stimulate joint production in India of spare parts, components, units, and other products to service Russian-made equipment and weapons.” To implement this ambitious program, a special working group will be set up at the next meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military and military-technical cooperation.
Over the two days of the Russia-India summit, Putin and Modi agreed on a program of bilateral strategic cooperation until 2030, which covers virtually all key sectors – from trade to agriculture, agri-food, energy and defense, industrial cooperation, and high technology.
From this standpoint, the declaration emphasizes, Russia and India will remove trade barriers and increase trade. The two friendly countries “will continue dialogue on trade liberalization, including the possibility of forming a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union and India. The two countries will also continue to develop a system of bilateral settlements using national currencies,” the statement says.
According to the Russian-Indian economic program, trade turnover is expected to reach at least $100 billion per year by 2030, especially by increasing exports of Indian products and services. Moscow and New Delhi prioritize the development of cooperation in the energy sector, including nuclear power, oil refining, petrochemicals, as well as ensuring bilateral and international energy security.
Before leaving Moscow for Vienna, the capital of Austria, Modi invited his “friend” Putin to visit India in 2025 for the 23rd annual bilateral summit.