This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. A 10 year defence technical cooperation agreement and a one-year oil contract were among the deals signed by Mr Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks in New Delhi. The Russian President went to the Indian capital in what was only his second trip since the pandemic began, having skipped the G 20 and COP 26 summits this year.
India also confirmed that Russia began delivery of its long-range S-400 ground-to air missile defence system this month, raising threats of US sanctions. Mr Putin snubbed the US when he described India as a great power as the pair bolstered ties despite Washington's attempt to strengthen its relationship with New Delhi. The US had set up the QUAD security pact with India, Japan, and Australia, raising concerns in both Beijing and Moscow. It appears that New Delhi is aligning itself more closely with Moscow. Mr Putin said at the meeting: We perceive India as a great power, a friendly nation and a time-tested friend. Russia has been a key supplier of arms to India for a long time, and the new S-400 missile system is one of its most high-profile current contracts.
After the summit, Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said supplies have begun this month and will continue. The deal is worth over 3.8 billion and was first signed in 2018. The United States has warned of sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act CAATSA aimed at reining Russia. The State Department said last week that no decisions had been made on waivers for India. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, told reporters on Monday: "Our Indian friends clearly explained that they are a sovereign country and that they will decide who weapons to buy and who will be India's partner. Nandan Unnikrishnan, a New Delhi-based think tank, said that Putin's visit to India was hugely symbolic and there has been a lot of speculation about the nature of the relationship between India and Russia, and whether it is fraying because of Russia's closeness with China and India's relationship with the US, but this visit puts all that to rest. India is trying to diversify its weapons supply and ramp up domestic production as a result of the move. READ MORE: AstraZeneca cocktail provides more protection against Covid.