Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Wednesday that Moscow is prepared to initiate the production of contemporary weapons under the 'Make in India' initiative. Lavrov made this statement during a news conference following discussions with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, who is currently on a five-day visit to Russia. The talks revolved around the prospects of military-technical cooperation and the joint manufacturing of modern weaponry between Russia and India, as reported by the state-run news agency TASS.
Lavrov emphasized that there is tangible progress in this area and expressed Russia's readiness to support India's initiative to produce military-purpose goods under the Make in India program. He stated, "We are ready to cooperate on this issue." Despite Russia being a major supplier of defense equipment to India, New Delhi has diversified its military imports to include various American defense items following enhanced bilateral ties with the United States.
Furthermore, Lavrov revealed that the North-South transport corridor project, initially signed by Russia, India, and Iran in 2000, will be implemented shortly. The project aims to facilitate transit freight traffic from India, Iran, and Persian Gulf countries through Russian territory to Europe. Lavrov expressed confidence in the project's realization, highlighting the enthusiasm it has generated among participating countries.
Discussing the broader cooperation between Russia and India, Lavrov mentioned agreements on steps to expand collaboration. This includes preparations for the North-South international transport corridor, the establishment of the Chennai-Vladivostok route, and joint efforts in developing the Northern Sea Route.
During the bilateral talks, Jaishankar expressed the enduring strength of the relationship between India and Russia, describing it as a special and privileged strategic partnership. He outlined the focus areas of the discussions, which included bilateral cooperation, adapting to changing circumstances, addressing global development challenges, and deliberating on the international strategic situation, conflicts, and multilateralism.
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