Bolstering military and defence engagements, India and Russia level up their bilateral cooperation

NewsBharati    14-Dec-2018
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New Delhi, December 14: Discussing wide range of issues related to defence equipment, industry and technological engagement, India and Russia agreed to extend bilateral cooperation on defence joint-venture (JV) manufacturing projects on Thursday at the 18th meeting of the India-Russia Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC).

The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Russian counterpart General Sergei Shoigu.

With a view to enhancing military-to-military engagement and rationalising the functioning of the Commission, a revised Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed by the two defence ministers.It will help restructure the existing IRIGC-MTC to the IRIGC on Military and Military Technical Cooperation. An additional institutional working group would also be set up under the expanded Commission.

With regards to the framework of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, the minister discussed a wide range of issues related to defence and other technicalities between India and Russia. Both ministers expressed satisfaction citing dynamism and progress in bilateral defence cooperation.

Intensive discussions were held on joint manufacturing projects, including the Kamov-226T helicopters, naval frigates and projects related to land systems. The two countries also agreed to take forward inter-governmental arrangements for facilitating joint manufacturing of spares for Russian origin equipment in India, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The ministers expressed satisfaction over the level of progress in structured engagement between the two armed forces, including joint exercises and resumption of training exchanges, as per the framework of the Bilateral Road Map on Defence Cooperation’ signed in June 2017.

The inaugural meeting of the IRIGC-MTC is proposed to be held in Russia next year.

Nirmala Sitharaman General Sergei Shoigu Defense Joint Venture defence equipment