India Eyes Defence Exports, Tech Transfer via Russia-led EAEU FTA

• India seeks to boost defence exports and facilitate technology transfer through a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
• The EAEU, established in 2015, includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, aiming to streamline trade and regulations.
• India's defence exports to Russia have been limited, declining from $18.3 million in 2019-20 to $1.2 million in 2022-23, before a modest recovery.
• Russia remains India's largest defence supplier, accounting for 36% of India's arms imports from 2020-2024, despite India diversifying suppliers.
• Negotiations for the FTA began in August 2025, with the first round of talks held in November 2025 and a second round expected in February.

Why It Matters: India aims to rebalance its defence trade with Russia and EAEU through an FTA, focusing on exports and tech transfer.