PM Modi Welcomes Putin in India With a Warm Embrace, US Sanctions Threat Casts Cloud Over Missile Deal
The 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit will take place on Friday during which Modi and Putin are expected to review bilateral defence cooperation in the wake of the US sanctions against Russian defence majors.
PM Narendra Modi welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin in India. (Image: Narendra Modi/Twitter)
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a warm embrace as he arrived in Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit to hold the annual bilateral summit.
The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and walked hand-in-hand at the Prime Minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, before they get down to business from Friday.
PM Modi also tweeted a welcome message for the Russian leader and said he was looking forward to the deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship. He tweeted the same message in Russian language as well.
Putin, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
"Long standing and time-tested friendship. Upon his arrival in India for the #IndiaRussia Annual Bilateral Summit, @KremlinRussia_E Vladimir Putin was warmly received by EAM @SushmaSwaraj #DruzbaDosti," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
The 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit will take place on Friday during which Modi and Putin are expected to review bilateral defence cooperation in the wake of the US sanctions against Russian defence majors.
The two leaders are also likely to deliberate on key regional and global issues, including US sanctions on import of Iranian crude oil.
The focus during the visit will be on the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system agreement, with a top Kremlin aide saying Tuesday that Russian President Putin will oversee the signing of the USD 5 billion deal.
The purchase will violate sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia, but American lawmakers have indicated of a possibility of a presidential waiver.
There have been indications by New Delhi that it will go ahead with the deal notwithstanding the US sanctions.
"India has maintained its sovereignty as regards to its relationship with countries. We shall maintain it in all earnestness," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said recently when asked whether the US sanctions will hit India's defence ties with Russia.
India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border.
S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system and Moscow has already started delivery of an undisclosed number of the S-400 missile systems to Beijing.
The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 systems. The missile system, manufactured by Almaz-Antey, has been in service in Russia since 2007. Russia has been one of India's key suppliers of arms and ammunition.
Sources had earlier said Modi and Putin would also deliberate on impact of US sanctions on import of crude oil from Iran.
Besides holding talks with Modi, the Russian leader will also have a meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday, according to MEA.
He will also have an interaction with a group of talented children and address an India-Russia business meet.The last annual summit was held on June 1, 2017, during the visit of the prime minister to Russia.
In May, Modi had travelled to Russian coastal city of Sochi for an informal summit with Putin during which they discussed a range of crucial issues.
Modi and Putin are also expected to explore ways to further deepen cooperation between the two countries in a number of sectors including trade, investment, connectivity, energy, space and tourism.
The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and walked hand-in-hand at the Prime Minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, before they get down to business from Friday.
PM Modi also tweeted a welcome message for the Russian leader and said he was looking forward to the deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship. He tweeted the same message in Russian language as well.
Welcome to India, President Putin.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 4, 2018
Looking forward to our deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship. @KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/IlGwRrXgAK
Putin, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
"Long standing and time-tested friendship. Upon his arrival in India for the #IndiaRussia Annual Bilateral Summit, @KremlinRussia_E Vladimir Putin was warmly received by EAM @SushmaSwaraj #DruzbaDosti," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
The 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit will take place on Friday during which Modi and Putin are expected to review bilateral defence cooperation in the wake of the US sanctions against Russian defence majors.
The two leaders are also likely to deliberate on key regional and global issues, including US sanctions on import of Iranian crude oil.
The focus during the visit will be on the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system agreement, with a top Kremlin aide saying Tuesday that Russian President Putin will oversee the signing of the USD 5 billion deal.
The purchase will violate sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia, but American lawmakers have indicated of a possibility of a presidential waiver.
There have been indications by New Delhi that it will go ahead with the deal notwithstanding the US sanctions.
"India has maintained its sovereignty as regards to its relationship with countries. We shall maintain it in all earnestness," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said recently when asked whether the US sanctions will hit India's defence ties with Russia.
India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border.
S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system and Moscow has already started delivery of an undisclosed number of the S-400 missile systems to Beijing.
The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 systems. The missile system, manufactured by Almaz-Antey, has been in service in Russia since 2007. Russia has been one of India's key suppliers of arms and ammunition.
Sources had earlier said Modi and Putin would also deliberate on impact of US sanctions on import of crude oil from Iran.
Besides holding talks with Modi, the Russian leader will also have a meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday, according to MEA.
He will also have an interaction with a group of talented children and address an India-Russia business meet.The last annual summit was held on June 1, 2017, during the visit of the prime minister to Russia.
In May, Modi had travelled to Russian coastal city of Sochi for an informal summit with Putin during which they discussed a range of crucial issues.
Modi and Putin are also expected to explore ways to further deepen cooperation between the two countries in a number of sectors including trade, investment, connectivity, energy, space and tourism.