India’s multi-billion-dollar purchases of U.S. arms are less about shifting its reliance on Russian defence equipment and moving towards the West - it's more about developing its own domestic weapons industry, security officials and analysts say.
SS: Despite recent progress in bilateral relations, there is still a long way forward for the US in diminishing Russian influence over India. For the US weaning India off Russian weapons reduces Russian influence over India while also promoting interoperability with Western forces in the region. India is recieved more favorably compared to Pakistan and shares many of Washington's concerns over China's recent expansionist tendencies. For India, Washington may prove to be a more reliable supplier and a supplier of arms that are more effective compared to their Russian counterparts. This is especially noted after Russia's performance in its war against Ukraine and subsequent supply chain melt down that has left India struggling to catch up with routine shipments.
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