Hindustan Times (Noida)

Military specialist­s to visit Russia for S-400 training

- Rezaul H Laskar letters@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: The first group of Indian military specialist­s is set to travel to Russia for training in operating the S-400 air defence systems, deliveries of which are set to start this year against the backdrop of possible US sanctions.

Russian ambassador Nikolay Kudashev on Tuesday described the upcoming departure of the Indian team as a “remarkable occasion” that will usher in “a new stage in our strategic partnershi­p”. He defended the $5.4-billion deal with India for five S-400 systems as part of Russia’s “bilateral and multilater­al commitment­s” within the framework of “just and equal relations based on the internatio­nal law and the UN Charter”.

Kudashev was speaking at an event hosted by the Russian embassy in honour of the first team of Indian military specialist­s heading to Russia for the S-400 training courses. “S-400 supplies initiative is one of the flagship projects in the Russian-indian military and military-technical cooperatio­n, which historical­ly constitute­s the main pillar of the special and privileged strategic partnershi­p between our two friendly countries,” he said.

“It is based on mutual trust and reflects the true spirit of our bilateral and multilater­al commitment­s in the framework of our vision towards just and equal relations based on the internatio­nal law and the UN Charter.” Last month, Kudashev said Russia’s ongoing deals with India for military hardware, including S-400, were “advancing well” despite the threat of potential US sanctions.

India and Russia signed the $5.4-billion deal for five S-400 systems in October 2018, and the first batch is expected to be delivered by the end of 2021. All deliveries will be completed in a five-year period, Russia has said.

The outgoing Trump adminis“across tration in the US has reportedly told India it is unlikely to get a waiver under the Countering America’s Adversarie­s Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for the acquisitio­n of the S-400, raising the risk of sanctions similar to those imposed on Turkey for buying the same systems.

The Indian side is keeping a close watch on the approach that will be adopted by the incoming Biden administra­tion to arms purchases from Russia.

Earlier this month, the external affairs ministry defended the S-400 deal as part of India’s independen­t foreign policy that guides defence acquisitio­ns in line with national security interests. “India and the US have a comprehens­ive global strategic partnershi­p. India has a special and privileged strategic partnershi­p with Russia,” said MEA spokespers­on Anurag Srivastava.

THE MOVE WILL USHER IN ‘A NEW STAGE IN OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHI­P’, SAYS RUSSIAN ENVOY KUDASHEV

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