“Buys less and less.” India is giving up Russian weapons, and this is a significant change in the country’s policy – Bloomberg

Bloomberg writes about this on Tuesday, December 3, emphasizing that this is a serious change of policy for a country that depends on arms supplies from Moscow.

Joint plans between India and Russia to develop and manufacture helicopters as well as fighter jets have reportedly been shelved some time ago.

According to interlocutors of journalists who wished to remain anonymous, the proposal to rent a nuclear submarine from Russia for training the Indian crew is also unlikely to be implemented. He noted that the South Asian country builds its own ships.

“Two warships and anti-missile shield batteries, which were ordered before the war in Ukraine, are the only outstanding items that New Delhi has not yet received from Moscow,” writes Bloomberg.

Journalists point out that India, being the world’s largest arms importer, buys less and less from Russia. India’s divestment of Russian weapons underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to reduce its dependence on Moscow, but the country’s government continues to buy cheap energy from Russia and provide diplomatic support to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

At the same time, writes Bloomberg, India has moved closer to the US defense orbit. However, India not only buys more from Western companies, but also, with the support of the US and France, tries to create its own weapons.

Russian weapons are often cheaper than Western ones, but require frequent repairs. This makes it less attractive and more expensive in the long run, according to Bloomberg, citing an anonymous Indian official.

“The turn away from Moscow is a defining feature of Modi’s foreign policy,” the agency writes, adding that he emphasizes efforts to maintain a balance in relations with Russia and the United States.

India’s reduction in purchases of Russian weapons was accelerated by the war in Ukraine. According to Sushant Singh, a professor of South Asian studies at Yale University, the delay in the delivery of anti-missile shields demonstrates Russia’s strained capabilities. For India, dependence on Russian is also an alarming signal “defense equipment” from Chinese electronics.

Bloomberg emphasizes that New Delhi and Moscow still jointly produce rifles and missiles in India, and Russia remains the largest supplier of military equipment to the country. However, the bulk of imports consist of spare parts for already obsolete rifles, tanks and India’s main fighter jet.

In addition, India depends on Russia in terms of nuclear potential — the Russian Federation remains the only country that offers its nuclear submarines to India.

In October, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit, hugged him and offered any possible assistance in “resolving” Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Earlier, in September, Modi met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi. During the meeting in New York, the politicians discussed issues of further cooperation, as well as the implementation of the Peace Formula and preparations for the second Peace Summit.

In August, Narendra Modi visited Ukraine. It was the first visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since the country gained independence in 1991.