Putin Warns Against Sanctions Threats to India's Sovereignty

Putin's Strong Stance on India's Sovereignty

St Petersburg, Jun 6: Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that any efforts to undermine India's sovereignty through "sanctions threats" would backfire under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

These comments were made during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, where Putin responded to inquiries regarding his previous remarks made during a discussion with global news agency heads.

"India consistently operates as a sovereign nation, and under PM Modi's guidance, any threats of sanctions would indeed boomerang," he stated.

Putin reminisced about his long-standing discussions with Modi, recalling the period when the Indian leader faced a ban from entering the United States.

He remarked, "I know PM Modi will always remember that time. Now, as Prime Minister, all sanctions have been lifted, and the relationship between the US and India is progressing positively, as far as I can tell."

When questioned about the potential for US sanctions if India were to acquire Russian defense systems like the Su-57 aircraft or the S-500 air defense system, Putin emphasized, "India is a sovereign nation and has the freedom to select products that they find most suitable and cost-effective. Regardless of external opinions, India has always acted in this manner."

He further stated, "India is guided by its national interests."

Putin highlighted that Russia's collaboration with India, like with all its partners, is not influenced by the political climate.

"We cannot be dictated to... No one can impose their will on us, and no one would even attempt to do so. We will always act according to what we believe is right and remain committed to our partners, especially India," he asserted.

Emphasizing the long-standing ties between Russia and India, particularly in defense, Putin noted, "Our relationship with India is unique, built on mutual trust. We focus not only on trade but also on joint research and development initiatives."

Regarding the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth aircraft, Putin mentioned that Russia had previously proposed a joint development program with India, but after it did not materialize, they proceeded independently.

"The Su-57 is an excellent aircraft, arguably the most advanced in the world today," he remarked. "We suggested a collaborative effort, but since that did not work out, we completed it on our own and are prepared to sell the Su-57," he added.

For many years, Russia has been India's primary defense supplier. However, ongoing supply chain issues and delays due to the Ukraine conflict have compelled New Delhi to diversify its military procurement strategy aggressively.

Following a lengthy search for a fifth-generation fighter jet, India has initiated its ambitious Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, considered the largest indigenous aerospace initiative in the country.

As the AMCA aircraft is not expected to be operational in the Indian Air Force (IAF) until 2035, the government is contemplating the acquisition of at least two squadrons (approximately 36) of Su-57s, contingent on meeting technical specifications.