India is seeking to distance itself from Russia as its largest arms supplier after Russia’s war against Ukraine undermined its ability to supply components and spare parts.
Reuters reports this with reference to sources.
India, the world’s largest arms importer, is gradually reorienting itself to the West as the United States seeks to strengthen ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia has supplied 65% of India’s arms purchases worth more than $60 billion over the past two decades, but the war in Ukraine has accelerated the push to diversify India’s weapons base.
“We are unlikely to sign any major military agreement with Russia. That would be a red line for Washington,” said Nandan Unnikrishnan, a Russia expert at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi.
According to experts and officials, Russia has publicly called on India to strengthen defense ties, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on domestic production using Western technology.
Such efforts fit better with Modi’s Make in India program, which aims to encourage domestic production. According to India’s Defense Minister, the country plans to spend nearly $100 billion on defense orders over the next decade.
India and the United States plan to “accelerate” technological cooperation and joint production in the defense industry. In 2023, the countries signed an agreement under which General Electric will produce engines for its fighter jets in India. This was the first such concession by the United States to non-allied countries.
Also, according to Reuters sources, India is considering purchasing French fighters for its newest aircraft carrier, and wants to produce submarines using French, German or Spanish technology and fighters with American and French engines.
