At Annual Summit, Russia Reiterates Support for India’s Seat in UNSC and Other Takeaways

The summit encompassed a wide range of deals on the S-400 missile defence system, Russian cooperation for building nuclear power plants and support for Indian membership at the NSG and the UNSC.

India Russia, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi

New Delhi: After wide-ranging talks, India on Friday agreed to a deal to buy S-400 surface to air missile systems from Russia at the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. The two countries also signed a pact to further enhance cooperation in the area of nuclear energy and agreed to expand collaboration in the arena in third world countries.

Russia also reaffirmed its “unwavering support” to India for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council as both nations called for reform of the powerful UN organ to better reflect the current world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges.


S-400 missile systems deal with Russia

As reported by The Wire earlier, India decided to press ahead with the deal to buy the S-4oo surface to air missile defence system from Russia, despite US warnings that such a purchase could trigger sanctions under US law as countries trading with Russia’s defence sector would face sanctions under a sweeping legislation called the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

The Russian built S-400 Triumf is a long-range surface to air missile defence system capable of thwarting incoming ballistic missiles and shooting down enemy aircraft, hostile bombers, jets, drones and missiles at a range of approximately 380-km.

Also Read: How India Walked a Tightrope to Ink the S-400 Missiles Deal With Russia

Just last month, the US imposed sanctions on China’s military for its purchase of combat fighters as well as the S-400 missile system it bought from Russia this year.

The US embassy in New Delhi has since responded by saying that the waivers under CAATSA will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis. “The intent of our implementation of CAATSA is to impose costs on Russia for its malign behaviour, including by stopping the flow of money to Russia’s defence sector. CAATSA is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners,” said the spokesperson for the US embassy in New Delhi.

Cooperation on conventional and nuclear energy

A joint statement said that the two sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen global non-proliferation, and Russia expressed its support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

“The sides noted the progress achieved in the construction of the remainder of the six power units at Kudankulam NPP as well as the efforts being made in the components manufacturing for localization. The sides welcomed consultations on the new Russian designed NPP in India, as well as on the NPP equipment joint manufacturing of nuclear equipment, cooperation in third countries,” the joint statement said.

Also Read: ‘Teething Troubles’ at Kudankulam: India Biting More Nuclear Than it Can Chew

Russia has built two VVER reactors with a capacity of 1000 MW each at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. Work on building four more reactors is underway.

“We have discussed in detail the flagship project of Kudankulam on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The first two units of this power plant are running in their full capacity. Third and fourth are being constructed, the fifth and sixth units are being constructed next,” he said.

Putin said Russia plans to build 12 more nuclear reactors in the next 20 years.

“In particular the two countries intent to develop the project of six nuclear power units of Russian design at a new site in India, further enhance cooperation in the third countries and in new perspective nuclear technologies along with joint construction of nuclear power plants,” the joint statement added.

The two countries are cooperating in the Rooppur Nuclear Plant in Bangladesh.

In his joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the talks, Putin said Russia is a “reliable supplier” of hydrocarbons to India.

He said India imports Russia’s Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). “We are supplying this gas from Sakhalin 1 field in which Indian partners own 20 per cent. In June, the first batch of LNG was sent to the Indian market,” he said.

Putin also welcomed Indian energy companies to expand their business in Russia.


He said Russian railways companies are ready to participate in the project to build modern rail roads in India.

The president said, “we will work closely to strengthen security cooperation in Asia and will combat threats such as international terrorism, drug trafficking”.

Russia reiterates support for India’s seat in UNSC

The strong backing by Russia for a permanent seat for India in an expanded UN Security Council was expressed in the joint statement issued after the 19th India-Russia summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both nations emphasised on the need for reform of the UN organ to better reflect the contemporary multilateral world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges in a statement titled, ‘India-Russia: an Enduring Partnership in a Changing World’.

“Russia reiterated its unwavering support to India for Permanent Membership in an expanded UNSC. Both sides resolved to work closely to ensure peace, security and equitable development both regionally and globally and to coordinate their efforts to address challenges to the stability of the world order,” it said.

Currently, the five veto-wielding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US.

Russia and India also underlined the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear programme in order to support international peace and security, to strengthen non-proliferation regime and to develop normal economic cooperation with Iran.

The statement assumes significance amid US’ warning to all purchasers of Iranian oil to bring it down to zero by November 4 or face imminent sanctions from it. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of a nuclear agreement that former President Barack Obama’s administration had signed with Iran. India and Russia called for all issues related to the Iranian nuclear programme to be resolved peacefully and through dialogue.

During the talks in New Delhi, Russia and India also reaffirmed their commitment to their special and privileged strategic partnership and asserted that this relationship was an important factor for global peace and stability.

Also Read: Interview: US and Russia Have Entered a ‘Phase of Enormous Danger’

Following wide-ranging talks between Modi and Putin on a host of global issues, the two sides declared their support for the Afghan government’s efforts towards the realisation of an Afghan-led, and Afghan-owned national peace reconciliation process. “Concerned with the unabated violence and severely undermined security situation in Afghanistan and its adverse effect on the region, the sides resolved to work through the Moscow Format, SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan, and all other recognised formats for an early resolution to the long-term conflict in Afghanistan, end terrorist violence, external safe havens and sanctuaries for terrorists and the worsening drug problem in the country,” the statement said.

Both sides called upon the international community to join efforts to thwart any external interference in Afghanistan, to restore its economy, contribute to sustaining peace and security, economic and political development of a stable, secure, united, prosperous and independent Afghanistan, it said. The two countries will direct their activity to launch joint development and capacity building projects in Afghanistan, the statement said.

During the talks, the two sides also discussed the situation in Syria and the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders reaffirmed their determination to support efforts and initiatives aimed at preserving the role of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, and preventing the politicisation of the activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Both sides also supported the idea of the establishment of regional security architecture, that provides equal and indivisible security to all countries in Asia and in the regions of Pacific and Indian Oceans.


They vowed to enhance interaction and coordination of efforts in the regional multilateral fora such as BRICS, G-20, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Russia-India-China (RIC) and East Asia Summits. During the talks, India expressed its aspiration to broaden cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union.

(With inputs from PTI)