St. Petersburg, June 6: Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that military cooperation between India and Russia is based on mutual trust, extending beyond trade to joint development projects. Addressing a plenary session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin emphasized the long-standing and reliable defense collaboration between the two nations.
He noted that India has purchased several fighter jets and helicopters from Russia, and hinted that Russia has also proposed its advanced Sukhoi-57 fighter aircraft to India. “The Sukhoi-57 is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world and has been offered to India,” he said.
Putin highlighted the BrahMos missile program as a successful example of India-Russia defense cooperation, showcasing the effective technical partnership between experts from both countries.
In his address, Putin praised India’s independent foreign policy, stating that India is among the nations that do not make decisions based on external pressure or directives. “India has never followed instructions from abroad. The right to sovereignty and independent decision-making cannot be challenged,” he asserted.
He criticized attempts to pressure Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that exerting pressure on the leader of such a large and influential country is detrimental to international relations and bilateral ties.
Putin also commended India’s talent, education system, and technological capabilities, noting that Indian citizens are highly skilled and have gained global recognition, particularly in coding and information technology. “India and Russia share excellent, trustworthy, and brotherly relations in every sense. We recognize how talented the Indian people are, and their education and technical expertise are respected worldwide,” he said.
He concluded by stating that the decades-old strategic partnership between the two countries continues to strengthen, with broad prospects for increased cooperation across various sectors in the future.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
