Russia’s Putin arrives in India, seeks arms deals

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India yesterday looking to tie up billions of dollars in arms deals with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Kremlin said before the two-day visit by Putin and top ministers that the “key feature” would be the signing of a $5-billion deal for the S-400 air defence system.

Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening and he and Modi were due to have dinner before the main talks on Friday. The route of Putin’s convoy was lined with placards welcoming him in Russian and Hindi. On Wednesday, the United States poured cold water on India’s efforts to obtain a waiver to avoid sanctions under legislation called Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Upgrades in arms systems “including the S-400 air and missile defense system” would be a particular focus for CAATSA, a US State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying by India’s PTI news agency. Putin and Modi, who appear to enjoy a personal rapport, are also likely to discuss a deal for four Krivak-class frigates worth $2 billion and 200 light utility Ka-226 helicopters pegged at $1 billion.

“It’s about time we showed that we are not going to be pushed around by Washington,” R.R. Subramanian, a Delhi-based strategic affairs analyst, told AFP. Indian Air Force Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa said Wednesday that the S-400, and the 36 Rafale fighter jets purchased from France -- a 2016 deal mired in political controversy -- represent a “booster dose” for the country.

Putin, 65, and Modi, 68, are also set to discuss a possible second Russian-built nuclear power plant. Moscow is currently expanding India’s biggest nuclear power plant in Kudankulam. Also on the agenda is Russian training for Indian astronauts as New Delhi aims to launch its first crewed space mission in 2022. Rakesh Sharma, the only Indian to travel in space, did so on a Soviet spacecraft in 1984. But military kit is the main focus.