A positive outcome

The low-key visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin last week had a high point which could prove vital in defending India in case of an enemy attack. The acquisition of S-400 air defence missile systems at a cost of $5.43 billion was the highlight of the visit, though both sides were at pains not to broadcast the fact. Rated as the world’s most advanced long-range air defence system, even better than the one currently with the US Air Force, Putin was keen on selling it to India, given that the sanctions-bound Russia can do with more such orders. On his part, Modi was keen to acquire what is considered as the gold standard in defending key military and other assets of the country against a foreign missile or air attack. No less notable was the fact that India risked the US ire in going ahead with the deal. The US enforces a hurting economic boycott of any nation which, defying its sanctions, chooses to transact business with the sanctioned country. ( Russia is sanctioned after it annexed Crimea and more recently tried to murder with banned chemical poison two of its citizens now in exile in the UK.) Hopefully, in this case, the US waiver will spare India any pain that it might otherwise have inflicted on this country. In this context, a statement by a US diplomat in Delhi was helpful. He said that the sanctions were meant to punish the ‘malign behaviour’ of Russia and not to ‘impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies and partners’. A militarily and economically rising China being a concern for Washington as well, it will not like to deny India any opportunity to strengthen its own military as it remains the main bulwark against aggressive expansionist designs of China. In short, the US waiver is on the way. S-400 long range surface-to-air missile system is able to protect Delhi against any attack by Pakistani missiles, besides safeguarding the military arsenal located in the not-so-unknown places around the country. China has already acquired this missile system from Russia. In a joint statement issued at the end of Putin’s two-day visit, Modi praised Russia for standing by India through thick and thin and partnering India’s growth story. Several other agreements were inked, including for developing six nuclear power projects. Russia will also train Indian astronauts for its first manned space mission in 2022. Putin undertook to cooperate fully in combating terrorism and drug trafficking. The two leaders discussed several regional and global issues, including Afghanistan where of late Russia is emerging a player along with China much to the annoyance of the US which still remains bogged down in the country. Putin’s visit was occasioned by the annual bilateral summit which was last held in Russia in June 2017.