Hugs as Putin clinches India defence deal

NEW DELHI: Russia and India’s leaders announced yesterday a raft of deals worth billions of dollars, including an air defence system, as New Delhi walks a tightrope between Moscow and Washington, with a wary eye on China.

The flagship accord announced during a visit to India by President Vladimir Putin was for the formidable S-400 surface-to-air missile defence system, worth US$5.2 billion (RM21.32 billion).

Other agreements, following a meeting between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that began with a hug, were in railways, fertilisers and space, with Russia undertaking to train astronauts for India’s first crewed space mission in 2022.

India’s decision to purchase the S-400 flies in the face of the United States imposing sanctions on countries buying Russian military hardware, as happened with China last month.

Washington is in a tricky position with India, seeking to bolster ties with the Asian giant to counter China’s assertiveness.