The Russian envoy to India has asserted that Western nations actively seek to disrupt the longstanding relationship between New Delhi and Moscow. In an interview with the RT news agency on Saturday, Denis Alipov said that US officials who come to India do not hesitate to directly state that “they are pursuing the goal of tearing New Delhi away from Moscow.”
“They are even making threats with secondary sanctions. Some Indian partners are forced to exercise caution, sometimes, frankly speaking, excessively, but there are also a significant number of those for whom such an approach is unacceptable,” he said. India and Russia have sustained robust strategic ties for decades, with substantial defence collaboration at the center of their partnership. Following the start of the Ukraine conflict in Feb 2022, India has notably become one of the principal importers of Russian oil in the last 18 months. This stance by New Delhi has often come under scrutiny and criticism from Western media outlets.
When asked how recent conflicts have impacted the India-Russia ties, Alipov said “In India, Russia enjoys a solid reputation as a reliable, sincere, well-intentioned, time-tested friend. Such an image was initially shaped due to the major contribution of the USSR to Indian socio-economic development, and it largely persists to this day.” “Our ties continue to steadily expand in a wide range of areas according to our converging national interests. But unlike our Western partners, we have never conditioned cooperation on politics, have not interfered in domestic affairs, and have always maintained mutually respectful and trusted relationships,” he told the Russian agency.
On the issue of bilateral trade, he said, “Our trade and economic cooperation has reached an unprecedented level. Russia is one of India’s four main trading partners. We maintain a leading position in the supply of hydrocarbons providing more than a third of Indian imports. Supplies of mineral fertilizers and products of the agricultural and diamond sectors are growing. All this creates a favorable atmosphere for our mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve new heights and strengthens the feeling of mutual trust in the business environment.”
On defence cooperation in the wake of India’s bid for self-reliance, Alipov told RT, “Our defence cooperation remains not only successful but also unmatched according to a number of indicators. Indeed, India is diversifying its purchases, and the share of other foreign partners in the Indian market is steadily increasing. However, the Russian segment remains dominant, at least at 50%.”
“Moreover, we have long adopted technology transfers and the practice of creating joint ventures, which applies, in particular, to Su-30MKI fighters, T-90 tanks, and AK-203 assault rifles. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is a matter of pride, whose characteristics are constantly improved. We are also considering joint expansion into third countries, including taking into account the capabilities of the private sector. Most importantly, our collaboration is highly aligned with New Delhi’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat localization initiatives.” He stressed that the essential point is that India-Russia cooperation is long-term, based on trust and strong mutual interests.
