RNS/ New Delhi: Giving a strong boost to its defence forces India signed a deal for the Russian S-400 Long Range Surface to Air Missile System at the summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin.
The agreement was signed in the presence of both the leaders at the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit at the Hyderabad House here on Friday.
Defying the United States, India signed multi-billion dollar deals with Russia to buy the S-400. The US warned that this move could attract sanctions on India under an American domestic law but India explained to the US that it was a ‘legacy item’ and should be kept out of the ambit of sanctions.
A joint statement issued after talks between visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the $ 5.4 billion (Rs. 39,000 crores) deal.
The deal has reaffirmed the “commitment to enhance military-technical cooperation between India and Russia, which has a long history of mutual trust and mutual benefit,” said the joint statement.
Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov. He will leave for Russia later during the day.
Modi, Putin signed 8 pacts in the fields of space, railways and nuclear energy to develop 6 nuke power projects in India.
India and Russia are committed to cooperating in the fight against terrorism, Modi said while President Putin said the two countries have agreed to step up cooperation in combating the menace of terrorism and drug trafficking.
