Russia to build six nuclear plants in India in 20 years

MOSCOW: Russia plans to build at least six new nuclear power units in India in the next 20 years, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. Speaking after talks with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin also said that Moscow and New Delhi were successfully cooperating in production of Brahmos missiles and planned to produce jointly a new type of jet fighter and transport aircraft. Modi arrived in Moscow on Wednesday but the visit officially kicks off Thursday afternoon and includes talks with Putin, a meeting with Russian business leaders and an address at an embassy event celebrating cultural ties. The two leaders met Wednesday evening for a one-on-one dinner chat that was closed to press and held in the company of only their translators, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, calling it “very constructive and warm.” He added that the Kremlin expected Putin and Modi to ease some visa requirements and oversee the signing of agreements by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom and railway monopoly Russian Railways, without giving details. Modi said on Twitter that conversation focused on India-Russia ties, calling it “fruitful” and also publishing pictures of the pair exchanging gifts. Ahead of the trip, Modi said he aims to “deepen the cooperation between India and Russia in the economic, energy and security spheres” and called Russia “one of India’s most valued friends in the world.” Officials declined to discuss possible defense deals to be signed in Moscow, though media reports indicated there could be as much as $7 billion worth of contracts agreed Thursday. A report last week said that India’s top acquisition body had cleared the purchase of Russia’s most advanced S-400 air defense systems. India was the erstwhile Soviet Union’s closest military ally during the Cold War and a major importer of its military hardware. Dipankar Banerjee, a defense analyst at New Delhi-based think-tank Forum for Strategic Initiatives, said India was “vulnerable to Pakistan and China both in terms of missile attacks and air strikes” and that the defense systems were “very desirable” despite a hefty price tag. Indian firm Reliance Defense Limited said Thursday it had decided to work with the manufacturer of the S-400 “on the entire range of Air Defense Missile and Radar Systems” that India needs. It was not clear whether the two companies are ready to reach a firm deal on the missiles. Russian daily Kommersant this week said Putin’s one-on-one talks with Modi would likely be the defining moment for the deal as the two seek to resolve price disagreements. -arabnews