India and Russia co-operation in defence

On 1 June, India and Russia signed a much-awaited agreement for two more units of a nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu and also decided to give a “new direction” to the defence cooperation between the two “great powers”. The two Governments also decided to hold the first tri-Services exercises Indra-2017, this year and start joint manufacture of frigates, adding to the planned co- production of Kamov Ka-226 military helicopters. These decisions were taken during the wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the former’s visit to St Petersburg, which covered a range of issues, including terrorism and increasing trade and investment.

In related news, representatives of Rosoboron export, a member of Rostec, took part in the 17th meeting of the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation co-chaired by Defence Ministers S Shoigu of Russia and Arun Jaitley of India in Moscow during mid-June 2017.