Indian Military Can’t be Operated without Russia U.S Critisized india
Relations between India and the United States have been strained since Donald Trump assumed the US presidency. The Trump administration has not only begun deporting Indians residing illegally in the US but is also preparing to impose heavy tariffs on India.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has now criticized India over its procurement of Russian weapons. The US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has urged India to stop procuring Russian weapons. He stated that restricting Russian arms purchases is essential to strengthening ties between India and the US.
To recall, during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, President Donald Trump had offered the F-35 fighter jet to India. While American leaders are pressuring India, US reports themselves highlight India’s reliance on Russian weapons. According to these reports, the Indian military cannot operate effectively without Russian arms.
US Minister Howard said in a TV program, “India has historically purchased military equipment from Russia on a large scale, and we understand that this needs to stop.” The minister further added that the US is ready to provide American defense systems as an alternative to Russian weapons.
Since 2008, India has purchased weapons worth USD 20 billion from the US. While the US has been pressuring India for years to stop buying Russian weapons, a US government report has made a significant revelation regarding India’s dependence on Russian arms.
India is the Biggest Buyer of Russian Weapons
A research report by the US Congress in 2021 revealed that the Indian Army cannot effectively fight without Russian weapons. The report stated that India’s dependence on Russian weapons would continue for many years to come.
The CRS report mentioned that many analysts in India and around the world believe that India’s reliance on Russian weapons will persist in the coming years. The report further stated, “Russia is willing to provide India with weapons and technologies that no other country in the world offers. Russia is supplying weapons to India at highly attractive rates.”
However, this American report states that since the Modi government came to power in 2015, Russia’s arms exports to India have been continuously declining. Recently, India has purchased the S-400 missile defense system, which is considered superior to America’s Patriot and THAAD systems. The report mentions that since 2010, Russia has been the source of nearly two-thirds (62%) of India’s arms imports. India is the largest importer of Russian weapons. According to SIPRI, this figure is approximately one-third.