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OpINION DECEMBER 31, 2021 | The Indian Eye 12

President Putin’s visit to india

and launch of a revitalized

partnership

Russian President Putin’s short but highly consequential visit and the launch of the 2+2 format have
imbued new dynamism into the bilateral partnership. There might be a few areas of divergence between the
two sides but spheres of convergence are much greater

ASHOK SAJJANHAR of bilateral trade of US$ 30 billion
and investment of US$ 50 billion
ussian President Vladimir by 2025. While it might be possible
Putin visited India for a few to achieve the target of investment
Rhours on 6 December 2021 which has already reached around
for the 21st Annual Summit between US$ 38 billion, it appears that it
India and Russia. Putin decided to would be difficult to meet the bilat-
go ahead with this visit although eral trade target which is languishing
the clouds of confrontation over around sub-US$ 10 billion level.
his country’s border with Ukraine Both sides have agreed to give
loomed menacingly. As Covid-19 a strong impetus to ties in the tra-
cases in Russia continue to surge, ditional areas of collaboration in-
with about 32,000 cases and 1,200 cluding defense, nuclear energy,
deaths being reported every day, his fossil fuels, counter-terrorism, drug
visit is therefore, a testimony to the trafficking, space, health and others.
strategic significance Putin attaches Defense cooperation continues to be
to relations with India. Just a little the lynchpin of the time-tested part-
more than two months ago, Putin nership between India and Russia.
had declined to travel to Dushanbe, The two sides agreed to extend the
Tajikistan for the SCO Summit at the Defense Agreement for a further pe-
last minute due to high incidence of riod of 10 years. An agreement was
Covid-19 cases in that country. concluded for the joint production of
This is Putin’s second visit out- more than 6,00,000 AK-203 Kalash-
side Russia since the beginning of nikov rifles with Transfer of Technol-
the pandemic 21 months ago; the ogy under the ‘Made in India’ initia-
first one was to Geneva in June 2021 tive of the Government of India. It
for a bilateral Summit with US Pres- is a matter of satisfaction that Russia
ident Joe Biden. Putin’s visit to In- expeditiously supplied essential mil-
dia has delivered an unambiguous itary equipment as requisitioned by
message that notwithstanding the India during Raksha Mantri Rajnath
speculation about the health of the Singh’s visit to Moscow in September
India–Russia partnership, it contin- 2020, in the wake of the Galwan at-
ues to be robust. In addition, the fact tack by China. This was done in spite
that the visit to India has taken place of the demand by China to delay the
before his trip to China, which in re- supply of crucial items to India.
cent years has emerged as a highly Both sides agreed to expand
consequential partner of Russia, is Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin before a meeting at cooperation in Central Asia. Chi-
also a reaffirmation that the India– Hyderabad House, in New Delhi at the 21st annual India-Russia summit (ANI) na’s footprint in the Central Asian
Russia relationship is pivotal. states in economic field has grown
The 28 Agreements signed be- at an unprecedented pace in recent
tween the two sides, both at the share views about the current secu- relationship. years. This is a matter of concern
governmental as well as at the pri- rity, political and economic situation Considerable attention was paid for Russia which considers Central
vate sector level, demonstrate the at the bilateral, regional as well as the to trade and investment relations. Asia as its ‘Near Abroad’. All the
extensive gamut of the bilateral rela- global levels. The visit concluded in a Putin noted that trade between the Central Asian countries are active
tionship. The first 2+2 Dialogue be- Joint Statement titled “India-Russia: two sides had declined by 17 per cent partners, to varying degrees, in Chi-
tween the Defense and Foreign Min- Partnership for Peace, Progress and last year but has grown by 38 per cent na’s Belt and Road Initiative. China
isters of the two countries took place, Prosperity”, which captures the state in the first nine months of this year. had established a small military base
which provided an opportunity to and future potential of the bilateral The two countries have fixed a target Continued at next page... >>

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