Russia, India Sign Military Cooperation Agreement for Next Decade

The deal envisages cooperation between units of the countries' armed forces, as well as the supply and development of weapons and military equipment, Sputnik reported.

The signing ceremony was attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.

The Indian defense minister, for his part, wrote on his Twitter page that he is "glad" that a number of “(bilateral) agreements, contracts, and protocols were signed pertaining to small arms and military cooperation".

Singh also tweeted that he had "fruitful" discussions on bilateral defense collaboration with Sergei Shoigu, adding, "India values its special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia".

Singh was echoed by the Russian defense minister who touted bilateral dialogue as something that contributes significantly to ensuring global and regional security.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in turn, expressed hope that Monday's talks would add to bolstering the nations' bilateral strategic partnership.

Right now, Russia and India are involved in the implementation of several bilateral projects, including those pertaining to the BrahMos missile system, a fifth-generation fighter jet (FGFA), licensed production of the Su-30 warplane, and the T-90 battle tank.

According to expert estimates, Russia has provided India with military equipment worth more than $65 billion over the entire period of military-technical cooperation between the two countries.

In October 2018, Moscow and New Delhi inked a $5 billion contract for the supply of five batteries of the S-400 missile systems to India. Other hefty agreements include a deal on India purchasing four Russian-made Project 11356 frigates and an accord on Moscow supplying Igla portable anti-aircraft missile systems to the South Asian nation.