Geopolitics: Adani, Other Indian Arms Making Firms Talking To Russia As West Watches

NEW DELHI – India’s growing defense ambitions are again in focus as Adani Defense and other major arms makers deepen engagement with Russia even as they seek closer ties with Western partners, according to Reuters. At least half a dozen senior executives from leading Indian manufacturers met in Russia this year for rare and secret discussions on joint ventures and future co-development, the news agency reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it a central policy to shift India from being one of the world’s largest arms importers to a global manufacturing hub. That push depends heavily on access to sensitive Western technology and long term partnerships with Europe and the United States. Yet India’s long standing dependence on Russian equipment remains a sticking point for Western governments that worry about technology security and supply chain exposure, Reuters noted.

Officials who spoke to Reuters said the Russia meetings explored making spare parts for MiG 29 fighter jets and other air defense systems, as well as a Russian plan to set up production units in India that could also serve export markets.

For companies like Gautam Adani’s  Adani Defense and Bharat Forge, such cooperation offers immediate industrial opportunity and guaranteed demand. At the same time, it risks reinforcing perceptions in Washington and Brussels that India cannot fully align with Western technology standards while maintaining deep operational dependence on Russian hardware.

Western diplomats have repeatedly argued that India’s use of Russian origin weapons, which account for about 36% of its inventory, remains a key barrier to unlocking the most advanced technology transfers. This concern sits at the heart of how India is viewed as it tries to join the top tier of global defense producers, Reuters said.