PIB Summaries 10 July 2024

Contents:

1. 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit
2. Defence Cooperation Committee meeting between India & UAE

22nd India-Russia Annual Summit

Focus: GS2- International Relations

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister of India paid an official visit to Russia for the 22nd India – Russia Annual Summit.

Indo- Russia Relations:

Historical Context:

• The longstanding relationship between India and Russia has been defined by the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership,” signed in October 2000.
• Since then, the ties have evolved significantly, encompassing various areas such as political, security, defense, trade, economy, science and technology, and culture.
• During the Cold War, India and the Soviet Union maintained a robust strategic, military, economic, and diplomatic alliance.
• Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia inherited this close association with India, leading to the development of a Special Strategic Relationship between the two nations.

Political Relations:

• In 2019, President Putin awarded PM Narendra Modi Russia’s highest state decoration – The Order of St Andrew the Apostle – recognizing his distinguished contribution to the development of the privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India.
• Two Inter-Governmental Commissions – one on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), and another on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) – convene annually.

Trade Relations:

• Both nations aspire to increase bilateral investment to US$50 billion and bilateral trade to US$30 billion by 2025. In FY 2020, bilateral trade amounted to USD 8.1 billion.
• After a decline from 2013 to 2016, trade between the two countries showed a consistent increase from 2017 onwards, continuing through 2018 and 2019.

Defence and Security Relations:

• India-Russia military-technical cooperation has progressed from a buyer-seller framework to joint research, development, and production of advanced defense technologies and systems. Regular Tri-Services exercises, such as ‘INDRA,’ are conducted.
• Joint military programs include the BrahMos cruise missile program, 5th generation fighter jet program, Sukhoi Su-30MKI program, Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft, KA-226T twin-engine utility helicopters, and certain frigates.
• India has acquired military hardware from Russia, including the S-400 Triumf, Kamov Ka-226 under the Make in India initiative, T-90S Bhishma, INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, and various submarines.
• Russia plays a crucial role in supporting India’s submarine programs, and a significant portion of India’s conventional submarines is of Russian origin.

Significance of the Recent Meet:

• The Leaders noted the continued strengthening and deepening of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.
• The meeting stressed the need to increase Indian exports to Russia through strengthening industrial cooperation, forging new technological and investment partnerships, especially in advanced high-technology areas and finding new avenues and forms of cooperation.
• To accelerate and sustain the growth in bilateral trade, bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030 was set.
• The Sides confirmed their interest in expanding cooperation in the field of communication technologies, including telecommunications, satellite communications, digitalization of public administration and the urban environment, mobile communications, information security, etc.
• Both Sides will continue joint efforts to intensify the use of INSTC route in order to reduce the time and cost of cargo transportation and to promote connectivity.
• The Sides support cooperation in developing shipping between Russia and India via the Northern Sea Route.
• The Prime Minister of India was conferred Russia’s highest civilian honour the “Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle”.
  • The award was conferred for his distinguished contribution to the development of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia and friendly ties between the peoples of the two countries.

Defence Cooperation Committee meeting between India & UAE

Focus: GS Paper 2: Important Bilateral Agreements

Why in News?

The 12th edition of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and UAE was held in Abu Dhabi recently.

12th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee:

• India and UAE stressed the need to further strengthen defence and security cooperation between the two countries.
• Both countries deliberated on the regional security situation, including maritime security, and underscored the need to enhance collaboration to tackle the security challenges.
• The 12th meeting provided an opportunity to further augment India’s defence and security relations with the UAE, strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

India-UAE Relations

• Diplomatic relations established in 1972; UAE opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1972, and India opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1973.
• The India-UAE JDCC was established in 2006. Since then, 11 rounds have been held.
• Other Defence collaboration between India and UAE:
  • Earlier this year, Indian Navy ships, INS Visakhapatnam, and INS Trikand, participated in the bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’ to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies.
  • The Joint Military Exercise ‘Desert Cyclone 2024’ between India and UAE was recently concluded in Rajasthan.