Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Russia for five days in late December. After the visit, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a press release stating that he had meetings with several senior Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, which is unusual for the Kremlin in normal circumstances. Following his meeting with Putin, Jaishankar tweeted that he “(A)pprised President Putin of my discussions with Ministers Manturov and Lavrov. Appreciated his guidance on the further developments of our ties.” Jaishankar also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The MEA press release mentioned that the minister had extensive discussions on various aspects of bilateral relations, including economic, trade, and energy, as well as defense cooperation. Jaishankar also visited St. Petersburg, where he met with the governor and explored possibilities for economic and cultural cooperation.
During the visit, Jaishankar signed three documents related to the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, an MoU on cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and a protocol on Foreign Office consultations. The press release noted that the minister’s visit aimed to assess bilateral relations, which, it noted, “have remained strong and steady, building upon strategic convergences, geopolitical interests, and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.”
This aligns with the Indian foreign policy goal of maintaining good relations with major powers, including Russia, despite its invasion of Ukraine, which violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a fellow United Nations member country. India did not condemn the Russian invasion, nor call out Russia for it. In what can be seen as a veiled criticism, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in 2023 stated that “now is not an era of war.” This was the extent of India’s response.
The recent visit by the Indian foreign minister to Russia does not seem to have resolved any of the outstanding issues between India and Russia, particularly in relation to defense. The Indian armed forces are concerned about Russia’s delay in delivering critical military supplies, which is attributed to the war in Ukraine.
In March 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) stated to a parliamentary committee that Russia was unable to “deliver vital defense supplies it had committed to India’s military because of the war in Ukraine.” The IAF cited an unspecified “major delivery” planned for 2023, which will not happen due to the war, potentially including the S-400 air defense system that India bought in 2018 for $5.4 billion. The IAF also relies on Russia for spares for its Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighter jets.
There are also potential “delays in the indigenous licensed manufacture of Russian Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles at a dedicated facility in Korwa near Amethi in Uttar Pradesh,” raising questions about Russia’s ability to fulfill prior agreements. These delays have been due to various issues including cost, technology transfer, and indigenization. The Indian Army is reported to have obtained approval to procure Sig Sauer assault rifles from the United States to meet immediate operational needs.
Other India-Russia projects facing delays include the construction of Admiral Grigorovich-class guided missile frigates and the leasing of a follow-on Project 971 Akula-class nuclear-powered submarine for the Indian Navy. The increasing delays and disruptions in the defense supply chain could prompt India to further diversify its defense trade with other countries, exploring options such as French Rafale’s Marine fighter jets.
The poor performance of Russian weapon systems has potentially shaken the confidence of the Indian military in Russian systems, further emphasizing the need for India to explore other potential suppliers.