Talked for nearly 10 years! India finalizes a $2 billion lease agreement for a Russian nuclear submarine as Putin visits
Bloomberg, citing informed sources, reported that India will pay about $2 billion to lease a Russian nuclear-powered submarine. According to the information, the negotiations between the two sides have lasted almost a decade, and India plans to receive the submarine within the next two years, with a lease term of ten years.
Informants told Bloomberg that due to price issues, the negotiations to lease this Russian attack submarine have been in a deadlock for many years. These individuals requested anonymity because the discussion is private. They said that both sides have now reached an agreement, and Indian officials visited a Russian shipyard in November. They said that India expects to receive the submarine within two years, but due to the complexity of the project, the delivery may be delayed.
The Indian government clarified on social media on Thursday that the contract was signed in March 2019. However, the delivery has been postponed, and the submarine is now scheduled to arrive in 2028.
The report pointed out that according to the lease agreement, this Russian submarine will not be used for actual military operations, but for training Indian naval personnel and helping India accumulate experience in operating nuclear submarines, while preparing for its own submarine construction. The submarine will serve in the Indian Navy for ten years.
Putin arrived in India on December 4th, Thursday, marking his first visit to the country since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During the meeting, Putin and Indian Prime Minister Modi will emphasize the energy and defense cooperation between the two countries.
In recent months, Modi has been striving to strengthen relations with Russia and China, especially after US President Trump imposed punitive tariffs of 50% on Indian goods. Modi explicitly stated that he would maintain India's strategic autonomy. The Modi government is currently negotiating a trade agreement to reduce these tariffs, which were part of Trump's pressure on India to stop purchasing Russian oil, aiming to exert influence on Putin to end the Ukraine conflict.
Before Putin's visit, the Chief of the Indian Navy, Dinesh K. Tripathi, told reporters this week that the commissioning of this attack submarine is expected to happen soon, but no details were provided. This submarine will be larger than the two submarines already in the Indian Navy fleet.
The Indian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry did not respond to Bloomberg's emails seeking further information. The Russian Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and Rosoboronexport also did not respond to requests for comments.
According to another report by The Hindustan Times, from 2012 to 2021, India had leased a Russian "971-type Nerpa" (Nerpa) nuclear submarine, named "Chakra," for the same training and operational experience accumulation purposes.
Putin will be accompanied by a delegation including Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. It is understood that the two sides may discuss a long-stalled fighter jet deal.
Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said that defense cooperation remains the core of Indo-Russian relations, and Russia's S-400 air defense systems will be an "important" topic of discussion.
India has received three of the five ordered in 2018, but the remaining deliveries have been delayed due to Western sanctions and supply chain issues caused by the Ukraine war.
Additionally, Moscow may propose joint production of its Su-57 fighter jets to New Delhi.
Sources: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850662839811211/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.