The Pentagon demanded that India abandon defense programs with Russia

. At the same time, a Pentagon spokesman said that the United Statesvalue cooperation with India on defense issues and want to further develop it Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby

The United States has demanded that India and other countries renounce joint defense activities with Russia, US Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby said, according to the Times of India.

“We have made it clear to India, as well as to other countries, that we do not want them to rely on Russia for their defense needs,” he said.

At the same time, Kirby noted that the United States appreciates cooperation with India in the military sphere. “And as proven a week ago, we are looking for ways to further improve its development. It will continue because it matters, it matters,” he concluded.

India is Russia's largest defense partner. According to Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov, the total portfolio of Indian defense orders exceeds $14 billion (about a quarter of all Russian arms sales abroad).

India postponed the purchase of Russian Mi-17 helicopters Politics

In December , Russia and India signed an agreement on a military-technical cooperation program until 2031. Its discussion took place within the framework of the Russian-Indian summit in Delhi, which was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin . At the same time, the parties signed a contract for $590 million, according to which AK-203 assault rifles will be produced in India.

Washington announced in March that the US administration was considering imposing sanctions against India under the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions) Act. The 2017 law provides for the introduction of measures against non-US individuals who cooperate with prohibited Russian sectors, projects and individuals.

After that, on April 17, India postponed a plan to purchase 48 Mi-17V5 military transport helicopters from Russia. As the sources of the ANI agency and the India Today portal clarified, the decision was not due to pressure from Washington, it was made long before it began - as part of support for the Make in India national program adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

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