The BRICS TimesRussian Ambassador Denis Alipov confirmed a major defense push for India. He reiterated the long-standing military partnership’s strength.
Stronger Defense Ties: Russia Reaffirms Commitment
Russia strongly highlighted its deep, long-standing defense partnership with India on Thursday. It also detailed a significant new defense push for the country. This announcement comes amid rising speculation. US President Donald Trump recently triggered this concerning the future of India-Russia oil trade. Trump claimed this purchase would stop soon.
During a Delhi address, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov spoke clearly. He said, “For more than six decades, uninterrupted cooperation in defense has served as the backbone of India’s armed forces. This cooperation long ago moved beyond a traditional buyer-seller model to joint production and full technology-sharing arrangements.” He stressed the huge scale of Russian support. He stated, “Approximately 70 percent of India’s military equipment is of Russian origin.” He pointed to its proven operational success. “A testament to its effectiveness, as demonstrated by the Operation Sindoor,” he confirmed.
Joint Production Successes and Future Plans
Alipov went on to detail key joint production achievements. He added, “Our shared achievements, including the joint production of BrahMos supersonic and soon-to-be hypersonic cruise missiles, Su-30 MKI jets, T-90 main battle tanks, AK-203 rifles, and naval frigates in India will continue to expand.”
He looked confidently towards future collaboration. He said, “Building on this legacy, we can move confidently toward local production of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, supporting India’s AMCA program. Discussions are also underway on drones, anti-drone systems, advanced radar, and other force multipliers.” Alipov then emphasized the unique nature of this bond. He explained, “This cooperation is unique because it is rooted in battlefield experience that Russia willingly shares with its Indian partners. The same applies to our joint trilateral services military exercises Indra, the latest of which concluded yesterday in Rajasthan, as well as our participation in multilateral naval exercises such as Milan and the SCO anti-terrorist drills peace mission.”
Trump’s Oil Claim and Official Reactions
Trump made a significant oil trade claim while speaking to reporters on Wednesday. He was at the White House. Trump claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi “assured” him that India would stop buying Russian oil. He stated, “I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop,” he announced.
His remarks quickly sparked widespread discussion. Hours later, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement. It asserted that protecting the Indian consumer’s interests is the government’s priority. This is crucial in a volatile energy scenario. The country’s energy imports “are guided entirely by this objective,” the statement confirmed. Referencing the United States, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified India’s stance. He said India has wanted to expand its energy procurement for years.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Denis Alipov also responded to Trump’s claim. The claim was about New Delhi and Moscow’s oil trade. He said Russian oil was “beneficial” for the Indian economy. He stated, “India and the US are independent in their decisions, and we do not interfere in those issues. Our oil supplies are very beneficial for the Indian economy and the welfare of the Indian people,” he concluded. The US imposed 50% tariffs on India. These duties became effective in August. Half of these duties were announced as extra penalties for India’s oil purchase from Russia.
