The Centre on Thursday refuted report on new $2-billion submarine deal with Russia, while terming it as ‘misleading’. A Bloomberg report claimed that India has sealed $2 billion submarine deal ahead of President Putin's India visit.
The PIB fact check said "The claim that 'India Clinches $2 Billion Russia Submarine Deal as Putin Visits' is misleading! No new deal has been signed between India and Russia. The submarine lease is based on an old contract that was signed in March 2019. There has been a delay in the delivery, and the new delivery is scheduled for 2028."
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Earlier, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting.
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Russian Defence Minister noted the time-tested friendship between both the nations.
"As you just said, our countries are tied with a solid, time-proven friendship, which is based on mutual respect. And on our way here, while we were in the car discussing various things, we came to the common ground that we are binded with a very deep tradition, which are very typical for the Russian and Indian nations," he said.
He appreciated the hospitality he got upon arrival in India.
"I sincerely glad to meet you once again on Indian soil. We are grateful for the hospitality shown to us from the first minutes of stay in Delhi," he said.
Belousov said that the bilateral relations have a strategic character, and the partnership with India is a key factor for the balance in South Asian region.
"This year we mark 80th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, and I personally thank Indian delegation for the participation in the solemn activities, which were organized in Moscow in May this year. Our bilateral relations have a strategic character, and the partnership with India is a key factor for the balance in South Asian region and the global stability in general," he said.
He also congratulated India on the occasion of Navy Day.
"Russia actively cooperates in full scale with India in formation of the new outlook of the Army, Air Force, and the Navy. And using this opportunity, let me congratulate you, the command, and all Indian sailors with the National Navy Day," he said.
He said that the intergovernmental commission on military and military-technical cooperation brings mutually beneficial decisions in the military domain.