India has started scrapping Russian-made weapons, limiting one of Vladimir Putin's remaining economic lifelines.
India remains the world's biggest procurer of arms, according to Statista, accounting for 9.8 per cent of global imports between 2019 and 2023.
In March 2023, India's Ministry of Defence allocated $100 billion for military imports over the next five to ten years.
Russia has historically been a major supplier of arms to the country, but contributing to the Indian arsenal while waging its own war in Ukraine has proven challenging.
There have been unconfirmed reports that India has begun to minimize its use of outdated Russian tanks, artillery, ships and helicopters.
Large orders for military aircraft and advanced military equipment have also been halted.
Newsweek has contacted the Indian Ministry of Defence by email for comment.
India served as a much-needed partner to Putin during the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine.
It remained a loyal patron of Russian military exports, which accounted for 36% of the country's arms between 2019 and 2023.
However, Russia's pre-occupation with the war in Ukraine, and its inability to meet export orders while also sending weaponry to the frontline has strained this relationship.
In March, the Indian Air Force complained that Russia was unable to meet its delivery deadlines for the S400 air defense system, leading the branch to lower its procurement budget for 2024.
India continued to purchase oil from the isolated country following the invasion, providing a lifeline for its economy as Western sanctions mounted up.
However, due to rupee-ruble transfer issues, the country has reportedly stopped paying for Russian premium crude since January.
As Russian military exports drop off, India has looked elsewhere to meet its military demands.
In late June, The Times of India reported that the country was in talks with the U.S. regarding the joint production of Stryker armored infantry fighting vehicles.
These vehicles would serve as a replacement for the aging Russian-made Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhoty-II vehicles, and would likely be employed near the India-China border.
Tensions at the border have remained at fever pitch since 2020, when troops from both countries engaged in a series of skirmishes and melees over the construction of an Indian road in the disputed Galwan River valley.
India's shift away from Russian weaponry comes ahead of a meeting between the two countries' leaders.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday for a two-day visit, which will include a face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This is the first trip by Modi to Russia since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has increasingly strained relations between Russia and one of its remaining geopolitical allies.
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Hugh Cameron is Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on international politics, conflict, and ... Read more
