WEB DESK
Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat Sunday asserted that his country follows an independent policy. His remarks came at time when there is fears of US sanctions over the India’s recent S-400 missile deal with Russia.
The Army chief recently held talks with Russian military officials and counterpart to enhance cooperation between the two countries. He said the Russians were very keen in associating with the Indian Army and defence forces. “Because they do understand that we are a strong Army, capable of standing up to what is right for us based on our strategic thought process,” General Rawat said.
India and Russia on Friday formally sealed the $5 billion S-400 air defence system deal and signed eight pacts at the annual bilateral summit in New Delhi even as the US gave a guarded response over the development. In a guarded statement, the US embassy in New Delhi said that its intent to slap sanctions against Russia was not aimed at imposing damage to the military capabilities of its “allies or partners”
The Army Chief was speaking at the Gen. K V Krishna Rao Memorial lecture. On his Russian visit, Gen. Rawat recalled a question posed to him by a Russian naval officer that India seemed to be looking westwards at America, which has put sanctions on Russia, and that Washington has also threatened to impose restrictions on New Delhi for dealing with Moscow.