India is set to develop defense cooperation with Russia despite US pressure, the Russian government quoted Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh as saying at a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov..

Russian and Indian servicemen practise eliminating sabotage groups of the simulated enemy as part of the Indra 2018 exercise. (Picture source Russian MoD)

"Rajnath Singh confirmed that India is set to further develop military-technical cooperation with Russia, to strengthen ties between the defense industries of the two states. He stressed that India had no plans to swerve from this path despite the US pressure," it said in a statement posted on its website.

The Russian deputy prime minister, in turn, said that "despite external pressure, Russia and India are successfully implementing joint projects in military-technical cooperation", such as deliveries of S-400 antiaircraft missile systems and other projects.

"Besides, work is underway to negotiate a program of Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation until 2030," Borisov said.

"In 2018, trade turnover between the two nations stood at almost $11 billion, up more than 17% compared to 2017 figures," Borisov said.

Singh took part in a Russian-Indian industrial conference in Moscow, where he met with Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov to discuss the implementation of current trade agreements and perspectives for bilateral cooperation. The Indian defense minister also met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

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