India and Russia hold sub-working group meeting to strengthen defence cooperation
- In Reports
- 12:52 PM, Jun 28, 2024
- Myind Staff
The third India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub-Working Group meeting took place in the national capital. The meeting aimed to further enhance defence cooperation and facilitate joint exercises between the two nations.
The two-day meeting, held on June 26-27, saw the participation of the Indian Army and Russia's Land Forces. The discussions focused on enhancing defence cooperation, military training, military education, and joint exercises between the two armies.
The Indian Army posted on X, "The 3rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub-Working Group (Land) Meeting between the Indian Army and Land Forces of the Russian Federation took place in New Delhi from June 26-27, 2024. The talks focused on defence cooperation, military training, military education, and joint exercises between the two armies."
India and Russia are preparing for an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia, according to Russian state news agency RIA, as reported by Reuters. A diplomatic source indicated that PM Modi's visit might take place in July.
In March, the Kremlin confirmed that Modi had an outstanding invitation to visit Russia, announcing a scheduled meeting between PM Modi and President Vladimir Putin. This would be PM Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019 and the first since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
President Putin last visited New Delhi in 2021 for the annual India-Russia Summit, which has not been held in the past two years. PM Modi last met Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022, urging him to follow the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Despite growing strategic and security ties with the US and other key Western players, India has refrained from publicly criticising Russia's invasion of Ukraine. India has increased its purchase of Russian crude, stating that it is necessary to control domestic oil prices, despite initial pressure from the US.
However, India has consistently advocated for a cessation of hostilities in the Ukraine conflict and a return to dialogue and diplomacy to find a lasting solution.
Image source: ANI
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