Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare move has removed his long-standing ally Sergei Shoigu as defense minister. The 68-year-old has been serving in the role since 2012 and has been removed to the appointed secretary of Russias Security Council. Although Shoigu will stay in the powerful role as secretary of the Security Council, the experts believe that the move appears to be a demotion for him.Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, an economist with little experience in the military will take over the role. Before taking over the role he worked as an aide to Putin and was the only member of the Presidents economic entourage to support the annexation of Crimea in 2014.The announcement for the change has been announced by the Kremlin saying the defense military needed to stay innovative.Notably, it is among one of the rare moves as reshuffles dont happen in Russian politics very often. However, the final decision is always taken by Putin. He decided to start a war against Ukraine.Will this change impact IndiaThe removal of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu could potentially impact India in several ways:Defense Cooperation: Shoigu has played a crucial role in fostering defense cooperation between Russia and India. His removal could lead to changes in the dynamics of defense deals and collaborations between the two countries. India relies heavily on Russian defense equipment, and any disruption in this relationship could affect Indias military modernization plans.Geopolitical Alignment: Shoigus replacement and any subsequent changes in Russias foreign policy orientation could influence Indias geopolitical alignment. India has been pursuing a strategy of multi-alignment, balancing its relationships with various major powers. Changes in Russias leadership could prompt India to reassess its diplomatic and strategic priorities.Overall, while the direct impact of Shoigus removal on India may not be immediately evident it could have ripple effects on various aspects of India-Russia relations and Indias broader strategic environment.
