NEW DELHI // The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, visited New Delhi yesterday to sign multibillion-dollar deals to sell military equipment, while promising to strengthen military and technical cooperation.
Russia has long been India's chief supplier of arms but problems have crept into their relationship in recent years, which has prompted some analysts to suggest that Pakistan, India's immediate military rival, has been seeking to strengthen its relationship with Moscow.
Although Mr Putin's visit to India was shortened from 3 days to less than a day, he sealed sales worth US$2.9 billion (Dh10.6bn) - including a $1.6bn deal for 42 Sukhoi fighter planes and another worth $1.3bn for 71 Mil military helicopters. Before he arrived, analysts had speculated that military contracts worth as much as $7.5bn would be signed.
According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, India has imported 77 per cent of its defence equipment from Russia during the past decade.
Mr Putin also held talks with the the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, about defence contracts and the future of Afghanistan after US forces withdraw in 2014.
"India and Russia share the objective of a stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, free from extremism," Mr Singh said after the meeting.
In a column he wrote for The Hindu newspaper, Mr Putin noted that trade between India and Russia "has overcome the consequences of the global crisis, and in 2012 we expect to reach record numbers, over $10bn (Dh36.7bn). Our next goal is to reach $20bn by 2015."
But the relationship between the countries has been hampered by Russia's non-delivery of the Admiral Gorshkov, a second-hand aircraft carrier that India agreed to buy in 2004 for $947 million. The date of delivery was revised from August 2008 to December 2012, and now it has been changed again to November 2013.
AK Antony, India's defence minister, told the upper house of parliament this month that repairs and sea trials on the ship had yet to be completed.
Recently, India has started looking elsewhere for some of its military procurement. Earlier this year, it signed an $11bn deal with the French company, Dassault Aviation, for 126 Rafale fighter aircraft.
Last month, India also bought 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook helicopters from US firms, in a deal worth $2.4bn.
But Sushant Singh, a defence policy fellow at the Takshashila Institution, a Chennai-based think tank, said that India had pressed Mr Putin to visit New Delhi "because there is a general feeling that Pakistan is wooing Russia".
"His trip was supposed to be for three days, and then it was reduced to 48 hours, and finally it was basically a four-hour official trip," Mr Singh said. "There's a feeling that we might be losing traction with Russia."
Mr Singh also said India had sought to discuss with Mr Putin the issue of the nuclear power plant in Kudankulam, a town in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
Russia is in the process of constructing two of the new nuclear plants. India wants to apply its new civilian nuclear liability laws to these plants, even though the agreement to build the reactors was signed in 2008, before the stricter consumer laws were passed in 2010.
In the event of a nuclear accident, the 2010 law allows India's chief nuclear operator to pass on damages to the suppliers and builders of the plants.
In The Hindu, Mr Putin wrote of the advantages of the Kudankulam power plant, pointing out that it would "significantly reduce the energy deficiency in southern states of India, and eventually eliminate it completely".
Mr Singh, in his media briefing, would only comment on the matter obliquely, saying: "Negotiations for the construction of units 3 and 4 have made good progress."
The protests that beset central New Delhi through the weekend because of the gang-rape of a 23-year-old student more than a week ago forced changes in Mr Putin's schedule.
He met Mr Singh at the Indian prime minister's residence instead of the Hyderabad House, the official reception venue for dignitaries.
Fewer journalists than usual were allowed in to the ceremony where Mr Putin and Mr Singh signed the agreements. Several roads were cordoned off, and all of central Delhi came under a heavy blanket of security personnel.
ssubramanian@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
