India, the world's leading arms importer, is currently witnessing a surge in interest from major global powers like the United States, Russia, and Germany, all vying to equip the nation with their advanced military hardware. This eagerness stems from a combination of strategic interests, geopolitical considerations, and economic opportunities.
India's long-standing reliance on Russian military equipment is gradually shifting, with the country actively diversifying its sources and increasingly turning to Western countries. While Russia has been India's primary arms supplier for decades, accounting for a significant portion of its defense imports, this dependence peaked in the 1990s and has been steadily decreasing since then. In the period between 2020-2024, 36% of India's imports came from Russia. This diversification is driven by a desire for self-reliance in defense, a policy championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative. Furthermore, disruptions in military supplies from Russia due to the war in Ukraine have reinforced India's resolve to diversify its imports and replace them with domestically produced hardware.
The United States has emerged as a key player in India's defense modernization efforts. The U.S. government has actively encouraged India to reduce its dependence on Russian-origin defense articles. In 2016, the U.S. designated India as a "Major Defense Partner", which reflects security cooperation privileges. Recent developments underscore this growing partnership, with the U.S. State Department approving the possible sale of Excalibur artillery munitions and Javelin anti-tank missile systems to India for a combined value of $93 million. This move is seen as a way to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and improve the security of a major defense partner in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia. Joint manufacturing and technology transfer are also becoming increasingly important aspects of U.S.-India defense deals. Discussions are ongoing regarding the co-production of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and Javelin anti-tank missiles.
Despite India's growing ties with the U.S. and other Western nations, Russia remains a significant player in the Indian defense market. Russia is ready to offer Su-57 technology transfer. However, Russia's capacity to deliver weapons and equipment has been affected by the war in Ukraine. Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov stated that Russia's arms export revenue has halved since 2022, because of the rising demand from the Russian military.
Germany is also making efforts to deepen its defense cooperation with India, potentially offering submarines and other advanced military technologies.
The competition among the U.S., Russia, and Germany to arm India reflects the country's strategic importance in the evolving geopolitical landscape. India's location, its growing economic and military power, and its commitment to an independent foreign policy make it a crucial partner for these global powers. Each nation is keen to support India's defense modernization efforts, strengthen bilateral ties, and secure a foothold in the lucrative Indian defense market. This push also reflects concerns over secondary sanctions or logistical challenges caused by Moscow's war in Ukraine.
