India-Russia friendship “higher than highest mountain, deeper than deepest ocean”: Rajnath Singh tells President Putin; 12 SU-30MKI jets for the Indian Air Force would be licensed manufactured by HAL at its Nashik facility
Our Bureau
Moscow/New Delhi
In an important development, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, held the 21st meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, during which he discussed ways to deepen cooperation and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening close contacts with Russia.
The defense minister called for further collaboration to consolidate and deepen the defense aspects of the countries’ and emphasized on further deepening the interaction between both nations despite “geopolitical challenges and great pressure.”
“Despite geopolitical challenges and great pressure on India, both in public and in private, India has made a conscious decision that the country will not only continue close contacts with Russia but will also deepen and expand our interaction. We will always be with our Russian colleagues,” Singh said as quoted by Russian Defense Ministry.
“We strive to work together in order to consolidate and deepen the defense sphere of our particularly privileged strategic partnership,” it added.
Taking to social media platform X, the defense minister said he had a “very productive meeting,” adding that India is committed to further strengthen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
On Tuesday, Rajnath Singh met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, during which both leaders expressed that India-Russia partnership holds immense potential and combined efforts will pave way for remarkable outcomes.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC).
“Rajnath Singh discussed various issues of bilateral defense cooperation. Both leaders expressed that partnership between both countries holds immense potential and combined efforts will pave way for remarkable outcomes,” the Ministry of Defense stated.
During the meeting, Rajnath Singh conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm greetings to President Putin. Stressing on the deep and enduring nature of the India-Russia relationship, the defense minister stated, “Friendship between our countries is higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean.”
Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh, held the 21st meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, during which he discussed ways to deepen cooperation and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening close contacts with Russia.
“Had a very productive IRIGC-M&MTC meeting with my Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov in Moscow. Reviewing the full range of bilateral defense ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation between both the countries. We are committed to further strengthen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” Singh stated in a post on X.
Singh expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Russian government and affirmed India’s commitment to strengthening the relationship.
“We are delighted to participate with you in the 21st India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on military and military-technical cooperation, in Moscow. Before we begin our discussions, I extend my heartiest gratitude to you for the warm welcome and wonderful arrangements for our meeting during this visit,” he stated.
“You have sent congratulations on the occasion of my reappointment as the Minister of Defense, I would like to thank you very much for this. This is our first personal meeting. We strive to work together in order to consolidate and deepen the defense sphere of our particularly privileged strategic partnership,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a major success for Make in India in defense sector, the Cabinet Committee on Security today cleared two major projects worth around Rs 20,000 crore for 12 Su-30 MKI fighter jets for the Indian Air Force and 100 K-9 Vajra Self-propelled howitzers for the Indian Army.
The two projects were cleared on Thursday by the CCS and the contract for the Su-30-MKI jets has already been inked, defense sources informed.
The 12 SU-30MKI jets for the Indian Air Force would be licensed manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nashik facility and cost around Rs 13,000 crore. These will replace aircraft that have been lost over the last many years.
The order for 100 K-9 self-propelled howitzers to be made by Larsen and Toubro at Hazira in Gujarat would be a repeat order as already 100 of them have been inducted into the Army.
