After US, Australia, & Japan its Russia : India, Russia To Sign Defence Logistics Support Pact

[Chanakyaa]

India and Russia are expected to ink a mutual defence logistics support agreement soon with each other during the annual bilateral summit between the two countries that will take place in October or November this year, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Roman Babushkin said on Tuesday, adding that Russia has decided not to sell weapons and defence equipment to Pakistan because of Indian “sensitivities and requests”.

The senior Russian diplomat also said Russian supply of the S-400 missile defence system to India is “on schedule” but added that in case of India asking for the expediting (fast-tracking) of this, the Russian side “will do its best”.

India already has similar defence logistics support pacts with the United States, France, Singapore and Australia. New Delhi is expected to ink such a pact soon with Japan as well apart from Russia which is India’s time-tested friend and key defence supplier. Such defence logistics support pacts ensure that either country’s defence platforms including ships and aircraft being able to use the other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies including fuel and spare parts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India in October or November for the Summit but there is also a possibility that it could take place in a Virtual format keeping in view the COVID Pandemic situation. “We are hopeful of a face to face Summit. But we should keep in mind the (COVID) Pandemic situation. We will adjust to the schedule (that is eventually decided),”Mr. Babushkin said.



While emphasising strategic cooperation with India including in the Indian Ocean region, Russia however remains uncomfortable with the four-nation “Quadrilateral” arrangement to maintain a “rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region” of which India is a part along with the US, Japan and Australia.

The Russian DCM said Russia supports any inclusive effort for cooperation in the maritime region but opposes any formation of military blocs. He said any inclusive arrangement on cooperation should be based on international laws, indicating—in a veiled criticism of long-time rival the United States—that Moscow feels the term “rules-based order” is to justify unilateral sanctions on countries and interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs.

But the senior Russian diplomat made it clear that Moscow is confident that New Delhi’s ties with other nations would never be at the expense of its ties with Russia and expressed Russia’s confidence in its “Indian friends”.

Detailing the extent of defence cooperation with India, the Russian DCM said that ongoing defence cooperation projects including for MiG-29 and Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft were being implemented”. He said the defence project between the two countries on production of AK-203 assault rifles (at Amethi in Uttar Pradesh) would be not merely a licensed production but also a “full-fledged transfer of technology”.

He also described the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile as an “exclusive weapon”.

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[Figaro]

Makes sense .... Russia needs India more than ever to purchase their weapons now that its traditional sources of exports have largely dwindled.

 

[Chanakyaa]

Makes sense .... Russia needs India more than ever to purchase their weapons now that its traditional sources of exports have largely dwindled.

What makes sense even more is, that India can use its Warships to "Refuel" either from Japan or Russia to keep check / attack its "Adversary" if its needed, Away from its shores.

 

[Figaro]

What makes sense even more is, that India can use its Warships to "Refuel" either from Japan or Russia to keep check / attack its "Adversary" if its needed, Away from its shores.

I don't see how India could get past even the Strait of Malacca in wartime. The refuel and replenishment agreements with Japan and Russia would only be good for training exercises or ceremonial meet ups. In wartime, the IN would have no chance of getting through the SCS, assuming it is at war with China. And I doubt the IN would try either, since it would be suicide.

 

[Chanakyaa]

I don't see how India could get past even the Strait of Malacca in wartime. The refuel and replenishment agreements with Japan and Russia would only be good for training exercises or ceremonial meet ups. In wartime, the IN would have no chance of getting through the SCS, assuming it is at war with China. And I doubt the IN would try either, since it would be suicide.

In 2020, its not Suicide , its "MAD". If u know what it means.

 

[nahtanbob]

Makes sense .... Russia needs India more than ever to purchase their weapons now that its traditional sources of exports have largely dwindled.

It makes no sense unless India wants to deploy forces in Central Asia or Russia wants to deploy forces in the Indian Ocean

 

[Varunastra]

Russia is our long time ally, and a blue water navy at that with plans for a supercarrier, more defence cooperation at this time is always welcome and this agreement is good news and aligns with our ambitions in SCS.

 

[Figaro]

It makes no sense unless India wants to deploy forces in Central Asia or Russia wants to deploy forces in the Indian Ocean

I don't think either is a viable choice. It would be literally impossible for India to deploy forces in Central Asia due to presence of Pakistan and China right above it. Russia deploying forces in the Indian Ocean is also not feasible given that the Russian fleet in general has declined substantially in recent years, with its Pacific fleet leading this decline. Even in the Soviet era, they did not even have a large presence in the Pacific, never mind the Indian Ocean. This pact as I see it is mainly for symbolic value.

 

[Protest_again]

Russian Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Roman Babushkin said on Tuesday, adding that Russia has decided not to sell weapons and defence equipment to Pakistan because of Indian “sensitivities and requests”.

So much for Pakistani- Russian bonhomie per PDF. Lol.

But the senior Russian diplomat made it clear that Moscow is confident that New Delhi’s ties with other nations would never be at the expense of its ties with Russia and expressed Russia’s confidence in its “Indian friends”.

Something we have been saying for long. Just wait for Iranian change of heart next. Lol.

 

[nahtanbob]

I don't think either is a viable choice. It would be literally impossible for India to deploy forces in Central Asia due to presence of Pakistan and China right above it. Russia deploying forces in the Indian Ocean is also not feasible given that the Russian fleet in general has declined substantially in recent years, with its Pacific fleet leading this decline. Even in the Soviet era, they did not even have a large presence in the Pacific, never mind the Indian Ocean. This pact as I see it is mainly for symbolic value.

If India was serious about Afghanistan it would deploy forces in Central Asia to support anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan. that would be expensive but would eliminate dependence on Iran/Chabahar

 

[nahtanbob]

So much for Pakistani- Russian bonhomie per PDF. Lol.

Russians are trying to make some $$$. pakistan has none to purchase Russian weapons

 

[Protest_again]

Russians are trying to make some $$$. pakistan has none to purchase Russian weapons

Narrative till yesterday on here was of Pakistan-China- Iran- Turkey- Russia- Qatar block vs US/India. Russia gave them a reality check today. Tomorrow Iran will.

 

[nahtanbob]

Qatar houses the US Air Force command

Al Udeid Air Base - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

For all its frictions with USA Turkey is a NATO member

 

[redtom]

If these countries give us 20% profit, we will start war against India immediately.It seems that every country should profit from the war against India.

 

[Viet]

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 18:01 IST

Indian, US and Japanese naval ships in the 2017 Malabar exercise at the Chennai Port. | Photo Credit: R. Ragu

Agreement gives access to Moscow’s facilities in Arctic region which is seeing increased global activity
After concluding a logistics support agreement with Japan early this week, India is now working on three such agreements with Russia, the U.K. and Vietnam, two official sources said. The agreement with Russia is expected to be signed in October.

Following the agreement with Japan early this week, India now has military logistics agreements with all Quad countries, Australia, Japan and the U.S., significantly improving interoperability as they also operate several common military platforms.

The agreements with the U.K. and Vietnam are under discussion, one of the sources said. The agreement with Russia, the Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS), is expected to be signed during the bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin in mid-October, Roman Babushkin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Russian Embassy in India, said early this week.

The agreement gives India access to Russian facilities in the Arctic region which is seeing increased global activity as new shipping routes open up and resources become available, officials said earlier. India has recently announced investments in the Russian Far East.


Malabar exercise
The utility of the agreements will be visible at the next edition of the Malabar trilateral naval exercise scheduled to be held in November, the first source said. As reported by The Hindu earlier, an informal consensus has been arrived yet to invite Australia to join the Malabar exercise but the formal invitation has not been extended yet. It is not yet clear if Canberra would be invited for this year’s edition.

In June, India and Australia signed the long pending Mutual Logistics Support (MLSA), elevated their partnership to Comprehensive Strategic partnership and also announced a joint declaration on a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The logistics pact with Japan, Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between armed forces, was signed early this week. India and Japan have already signed an implementing arrangement for deeper cooperation between the Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).

India has signed several logistics agreements in recent years beginning with the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (LEMOA) with the U.S. in 2016, and the Navy has been the biggest beneficiary of them.

There has been a sharp increase in India’s maritime interactions with the Quad countries on a bilateral basis centred around information sharing for improved Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific. The Andaman and Nicobar islands located close to the strategic Strait of Malacca have been of interest to several countries including Australia and Japan.

After India signed foundational agreement Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) with the U.S., it got access to encrypted communication systems for seamless communication. As part of this, in March 2019 the Navy and U.S. Navy signed a loan agreement and installed two Pacific fleet provided CENTRIXS (Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System) kits at the Indian Navy headquarters. Discussions are on for more systems to be installed in a variety of places and platforms, though officials declined to give a specific number. These along with the logistics pacts will significantly improve interoperability.

Logistics agreements are administrative arrangements facilitating access to military facilities for exchange of fuel and provisions on mutual agreement simplifying logistical support and increasing operational turnaround of the military when operating away from India.

India in talks for logistics pacts with Russia, U.K. and Vietnam

Agreement gives access to Moscow’s facilities in Arctic region which is seeing increased global activity

www.thehindu.com