Who will Russia side with in Indo-China border tensions?
Tuesday, June 23rd: Indian Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, is on a three-day visit to Russia. He will also hold talks with Russian military officials and take part in a grand military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
This is the first foreign visit by a senior Union Minister since the Covid-19 epidemic and a four-month travel ban. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Russia comes at a time when India is at loggerheads with China in Ladakh. Rajnath Singh tweeted before leaving for Moscow on Monday.
Leaving for Moscow on a three day visit. The visit to Russia will give me an opportunity to hold talks on ways to further deepen the India-Russia defence and strategic partnership. I shall also be attending the 75th Victory Day Parade in Moscow.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 22, 2020
He wrote: “I am leaving for a three-day visit to Moscow. The visit will provide an opportunity for dialogue to strengthen India-Russia defense and strategic partnership.”
Senior Indian Defense Ministry officials say that despite tensions on the border with China, the Defense Minister did not postpone his visit to Russia because India has military ties with Russia for decades and the two countries are in talks with top Russian officials. Reportedly they will hold various meetings to enhance military cooperation between the two countries.
The Defense Minister’s visit is being seen in the Indian media as an attempt to enhance India’s military capabilities. Many newspapers have written that ‘amid ongoing tensions with China over the LAC in Ladakh, India’s defense minister has gone to Russia to make his weapons fully effective and increase his power to intimidate China’.
However, analysts believe that the Indian government has woken up late and that due to the Covid-19 epidemic, it will take more time for India to acquire arms and defense systems from Russia, but Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that we will put pressure on Russia to achieve this as soon as possible.
Delay in defense deal with Russia
“India has been avoiding a number of important defense deals for a long time,” Vene Shukla, a senior journalist based in Moscow, told the BBC. Sometimes it is said that there is no money, sometimes another reason is given. As in the case of multi-utility helicopters. Russia has said that 60 helicopters are ready to be taken and the remaining 140 helicopters will be made in India.
The Indian bureaucrats have reportedly started bargaining, saying that they would only buy 40 helicopters, then there was talk of prices and no decision has been taken since 2014.
According to Wayne Shukla, “If India had these (ambulance) helicopters, the soldiers who died due to lack of medical aid in the Gulwan Valley could have been easily rescued.”
“Helicopters are not the only defense deal. When an agreement was reached with Russia to build a rifle, Russia immediately completed the joint venture operation,” he said. He also built a factory near Amethi but also got stuck in the bureaucracy. Sukhoi and MiG’s are the backbone of the Indian Air Force, but their procurement has stalled and they remain stuck until trouble strikes.
The issue has been raised by Russia with the current Indian government and investors have questioned the government’s seriousness. Therefore, the delay is due to the Government of India.
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