India signs $3b submarine deal with Russia: reports

India shares US fears about China's growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean


Afp March 08, 2019
Russia remains a major supplier of arms to India and in October leaders Modi and Putin met to sign a deal over Russia's missile defence system for $5.2 billion. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: India has signed a $3 billion deal to lease a third Russian nuclear-powered submarine for 10 years, giving Delhi a boost in the Indian Ocean against Pakistan and China, media reports said.

The deal - which according to the reports took months to negotiate - comes as tensions run high between India and Pakistan following their biggest standoff in years, and as Chinese influence grows in the region.

A defence ministry spokesperson declined to confirm the agreement to AFP but the reports said that the submarine, the third India has leased from Russia, would be delivered by 2025.

India being pushed for ‘direct talks’ with Pakistan

Russia, India's Cold War ally, remains a major supplier of arms to India, irking the United States which has imposed sanctions on nations buying military hardware from Moscow.

Last October Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met and inked a deal for Delhi to buy Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile defence system for $5.2 billion.

But India also shares US fears about China's growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean, where New Delhi has traditionally held sway.

In 2017 India and China had a military standoff over a Himalayan plateau claimed by both Beijing and Bhutan, a close ally of India.

China has made inroads in Sri Lanka and Maldives, countries that India considers to be in its sphere of influence, through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Two Kashmiri vendors attacked in India's Lucknow post-Pulwama

On February 26, India alleged its warplanes hit a militant training camp in Pakistan in response to a suicide bombing in Kashmir - which killed 40 paramilitary officers - triggering a dogfight in which two Indian planes were shot down.

Tensions cooled after Pakistan on last Friday returned the Indian pilot of the downed aircraft, although shelling and firing of mortars continues at the de-facto Kashmir border.

COMMENTS (2)

curious2 | 5 years ago | Reply Seems like an exorbitant amt of money for a ten year lease. USA purchases the Virginia class nuke attack submarine for about $2.3 Billion and they get a better sub with full ownership forever. Military procurement in India has a shady record and this smells like another corrupt deal.
Sexton | 5 years ago | Reply All these silly countries, worldwide, wasting their money on military toys, and pretending it is important expenditure.
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ