23rd India-Russia Summit Overview
The summit, held on December 4-5, highlighted the personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The joint statement underlined a strong strategic partnership aimed at global peace and stability.
Key Themes and Outcomes
- Strategic Partnership: The partnership is focused on establishing global peace and stability, emphasizing a multipolar world and Asia, challenging the notion of a G2 world order dominated by the US and China.
- India's Stance on Ukraine: Prime Minister Modi emphasized India's position of being "not neutral, but on the side of peace" in the Ukraine conflict.
- Defence Cooperation:
- Continued collaboration on joint development of defence platforms, benefiting India's national interests.
- Emphasis on self-reliance through joint R&D in advanced defence technology.
- Russia's participation in the Make in India program to enhance employment and skill development, as seen in the AK-203 rifle project.
- Energy and Economic Cooperation:
- Russia committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies to India, despite Western sanctions.
- Strategic investments in each other's energy infrastructure to meet India's energy security needs.
- Free trade area negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union and increased use of national currencies in trade.
Conclusion
The India-Russia partnership is robust and focuses on supporting an equitable multipolar order. By hosting President Putin, India is reinforcing its emergence as a major global power.
