India pivots from Russia to US for weapons, marking realignment in global arms trade
India, the world’s largest importer of weapons, bought only 36 per cent of its arms imports from Russia last year, down from 76 per cent in 2009
India has sharply reduced orders for defence equipment with Russia and is now buying more from Western suppliers, officials said, a significant policy shift for a nation traditionally reliant on arms from Moscow.
India and Russia’s plans to jointly develop and manufacture helicopters and advanced fighter jets were shelved some time ago, according to senior Indian officials with direct knowledge, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.
A separate proposal to lease a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia to train an Indian crew is also unlikely to move forward, they said, noting that the South Asian nation is building its own vessels. Two warships and batteries for an anti-missile shield, which were ordered before the war in Ukraine, are the only outstanding items New Delhi has yet to receive from Moscow.
India’s ministries of defence and external affairs didn’t reply to requests for comment.
India, the world’s largest importer of weapons, has been buying less and less from Russia. Only 36 per cent of India’s arms imports came from Russia last year, down from 76 per cent in 2009, according to a March report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an independent think tank that studies conflict, weapon sales and disarmament.
India’s move to wean itself off Russian weapons underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to steadily reduce its dependence on Moscow, even as his government continues to buy cheap energy from Russia and provide diplomatic support to Vladimir Putin. India at the same time has moved closer into the US defence orbit, providing an anchor for the relationship just as Donald Trump comes into office threatening higher tariffs.
