India and Russia defense cooperation: The national capital of India hosted the third meeting of the Sub-Working Group of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) to further strengthen defense cooperation and joint exercises between the two countries.
On June 26–27, the Indian Army and the Russian Land Forces convened for a two-day summit.
The main topics of discussion at the conference were joint exercises between the two armies, military education, and defense cooperation.
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“3rd #India #Russia Inter Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub Working Group (Land) Meeting between #IndianArmy & #LandForces, Russian Federation was held at #NewDelhi from 26-27 Jun 2024. The Talks focused on defence cooperation, military training, military education & joint exercises between the two Armies,” the Indian Army posted on X.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia shortly, and plans are being made for this visit, according to Reuters, which cited Russian state news agency RIA.
A diplomatic source told RIA that there is a chance PM Modi will come in July.
According to Business Standard, the Kremlin had earlier declared in March that PM Modi had received an official invitation to visit Russia, indicating that a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and PM Modi is planned.
If the visit happens, it will be PM Modi’s first visit to Russia since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and his first since 2019.
The yearly India-Russia Summit was held in New Delhi in 2021; it hasn’t been held in the previous two years. This was President Putin’s last trip there.
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When PM Modi and Putin last spoke on September 16, 2022, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, he urged Putin to pursue a diplomatic and dialogue-based solution to the Ukraine crisis.
India has not publicly denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, notwithstanding enhancing its security and geopolitical ties with the US and other big Western powers. Claiming that this was essential to keep home oil prices under control, India even raised its purchases of Russian oil in defiance of early US pressure.
India has nevertheless constantly advocated a return to diplomatic and conversational paths to reach a long-term solution as well as an end to the violence in Ukraine.
