India and Russia in nuclear deal
Pastor Dale Morgan
India and Russia in nuclear deal*
Russia will build four nuclear power reactors in India under a draft
deal signed by their two leaders in the Indian capital, Delhi.
It came on the first day of President Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
On Friday he will be the guest of honour at Republic Day celebrations.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said energy was at the core of
Indian-Russian relations.
Russia and India have had historically close links since Soviet times.
On the eve of Mr Putin's visit, the two countries signed two deals on
the production and joint development of aircraft and fighter plane engines.
Series of agreements
"Energy security is the most important of the emerging dimensions of our
strategic partnership," Mr Singh said as he and Mr Putin signed a
memorandum of understanding on the new nuclear reactors.
"Russia's position as a global leader on energy issues is widely
recognised."
He also thanked Russia for its support "in lifting international
restrictions on nuclear co-operation and assisting India in the
expansion of our nuclear energy programme".
The Indian ministry of external affairs press said the four new reactors
would be built at Kudankulam (in southern India) and at other sites.
It says the two countries have also signed a series of agreements on
scientific, space, aviation and economic cooperation, including giving
India access to Russia's satellite navigation system, Glonass.
Russia is already helping India build two nuclear reactors to meet its
growing energy needs.
Reacting to China's satellite-destroying weapons test earlier in the
week, the two leaders called for a "weapons free outer space".
"The fundamental position of the Russian Federation is that outer space
should be absolutely weapons free," Mr Putin told a joint press
conference in Delhi.
New Challenges
Mr Singh said he shared that position. "Our position is similar in that
we are not in favour of the weaponisation of outer space."
Mr Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday morning and in a departure from
protocol, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally was at the airport to
receive him.
The two countries have close ties, with India remaining a top buyer of
Russian weaponry.
However, the relationship faces new challenges, including competition
from the West and the growing economic and military might of China
Signing new co-operation agreements with his Indian counterpart on
Wednesday, Russia's Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, said a close and
trusting relationship with India remained a top priority.
Russia is currently bidding to supply more than 120 fighter planes to
Delhi. Moscow faces stiff competition from Western manufacturers,
leading a top Russian official to warn of "consequences" should India
choose a Western manufacturer.
Russia and India are also rapidly deepening co-operation in the energy
sector.
Strategic triangle
Russia has identified India as a new market for its civilian nuclear
technology.
For its part, India has declared an interest in securing a stake in
future Russian oil and gas field developments.
Future plans aside, businessmen from both countries say urgent action is
needed to tackle insurmountable bureaucracy.
The BBC's Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says when weapons are left
out of the equation, trade between Russia and India has actually fallen
to its lowest level for more than two decades.
Nonetheless, many Russian diplomats see a special place for India, our
analyst says.
They have repeatedly raised the idea of a strategic triangle, uniting
Russia, India and China, in an axis opposed to the global dominance of
the United States.
It has been stymied by realities on the ground, including the fact that
Russia and India are both wary of China's status as an emerging economic
and military super-power, our analyst adds.