Deal for S-400 Air Defence System

Deal for S- Air Defence System The new Russian leadership under Vladimir Putin (President, –present) reversed the Yeltsin-era drift in India- Russia bilateral relations. Russia signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership with India in and established the institution of annual summit meetings. Its declaration was further elevated to the level of “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” in . Moscow realized that as a Eurasian power, an active Russian role in an emerging Asia would be limited without a solid partnership with old friends like India. Areas of Cooperation Currently, India is the largest importer of Russian defence equipment. The defence facet of the relationship is one of the strongest pillars of the India-Russia relationship and has gone through the test of time. Russia is also the only country that lays emphasis on sharing high-end defence technology with India which highlights the mutual trust between the two countries. India, Russia and other neighbouring countries are engaged in efforts to operationalise the International North- South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which promises to propel connectivity and trade relations between the two countries. ( India and Russia deeply cooperate in a diverse set of areas which includes nuclear energy, trade, oil and gas, space program, science and technology, at the UN, BRICS, SCO and other international fora. The two countries share common ground on critical global challenges such as terrorism, cybersecurity, climate change, preventing the weaponisation of outer space and prevention of weapons of mass destruction. Russia also supports India’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. It also has remained a strong supporter of India in the Kashmir issue which is of India’s core interest.