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India May Export Military Equipment to Azerbaijan If Interest Shown: Expert

© AP Photo / Gurinder OsanA vehicle mounted Brahmos missiles is displayed at the Republic Day parade rehearsal in the backdrop of the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009.
A vehicle mounted Brahmos missiles is displayed at the Republic Day parade rehearsal in the backdrop of the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. - Sputnik India, 1920, 30.10.2023
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In light of the Indian minister of commerce's recent visit to Azerbaijan and potential fresh arms deliveries to Armenia, Ambassador Debnath Shaw discussed the future relationship between India and Azerbaijan.
India is reportedly preparing to export more goods, some of which might contain military hardware used to strengthen Armenia's deterrent might, Indian media reported.
The last consignment of military hardware that India shipped to Armenia contained rockets, ammunition, anti-tank missiles, and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers.
Significantly, the supply was routed via Iran, a country with historical ties to Armenia, which prompted Azerbaijan to object.

Earlier this year, a trilateral cooperation between India, Iran, and Armenia was established to examine the transport corridor.

Against the backdrop of potential new arms deliveries to Armenia, Indian Ambassador Debnath Shaw, a former ambassador to Azerbaijan, spoke with Sputnik India about the future relationship between India and Azerbaijan.

India-Azerbaijan: Trade, Investment, Student and Cultural Exchange

Indian Ambassador Debnath Shaw emphasised that the recent Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Trade, Economics, Scientific and Technological Cooperation had its sixth session in Baku on October 25, which was co-chaired by India’s Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel and Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov, indicates that both Azerbaijan and India intend to maintain the fundamental elements of their partnership.

“The Indian public sector has made major investments in Azerbaijan, and other parties are eager to expand their partnership with the energy corporation from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is currently home to a large number of Indian students, particularly in the fields of engineering and medicine. The tourism and cultural exchange between India and Azerbaijan is also expanding”, said Shaw.

Geopolitical Differences to Economic Ties

Shaw further underlined that even though India and Azerbaijan hold divergent political opinions on several issues, most notably those pertaining to Kashmir, their trade and economic ties are nonetheless substantial, with Azerbaijan being the "strongest ties in the region" compared to Armenia or Georgia.
Trade between the two nations was worth $1 billion in the previous fiscal year.

Geographically speaking, Shaw highlighted that both nations are exploring the International North-South Transport Corridor, along which some recent developments have taken place, including the movement of freight trains which originate in southern Russia and travel through Azerbaijan.

“Additionally, once the Iranian railway system is completed and linked to all Iranian ports—which are connected to all Indian ports on the western coast, especially the port of Chabahar—trade routes would be easier”, said the ambassador.

Armenia’s Arms Trade vs Azerbaijan

In his discussion of India's arms trade with Armenia, the ambassador emphasised India’s arms control policy, which effectively states that military hardware should only be sold or transferred to countries with whom it has a strategic partnership.

India has dispatched some minor military equipment to Armenia in that regard. Similarly, if Azerbaijan expresses interest in acquiring specific military equipment from India, then New Delhi will be prepared to supply military hardware to Azerbaijan in the future, provided both nations can maintain their strategic relationship.

“India is concerned about the state of affairs in the region because it affects peace and security, and diplomatic negotiations are the only way to bring about lasting peace. India also supports the OSC Minsk group's initiative to continue efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan”, said Shaw.

Meanwhile, the ambassador asserted that the connection between India and Azerbaijan is based on economics, trade, investment, and people-to-people ties, all of which contribute to the partnership's advancement. In a similar vein, Azerbaijan is vital to the International North-South Transport Corridor and offers Indian exporters a more expedient and cost-effective route than the Suez Canal.

“The Caspian Sea provides a natural outlet for gas, oil, and other energy sources, which are all directed towards Azerbaijan. India has made a substantial $1.2 billion investment to acquire a portion of the current oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea's Azerbaijani area. India has a strong reliance on oil imports, including from the Caspian Sea, hence it is vital to maintain this relationship”, said Shaw.
The ambassador pointed out that the lack of a summit meeting remains a notable void in the bilateral relationship. It's been overdue and hasn't happened in the last 25 years or so, but is likely to happen sooner rather than later, per Shaw.
Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mnatsakan Safaryan - Sputnik India, 1920, 26.10.2023
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