India ‘successfully tests’ nuclear-capable missile able to reach deep into China
The Agni-5 missile was successfully launched in India’s eastern Odisha state on Wednesday.
The launch “validated all operational and technical parameters”.
India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, are intense rivals competing for influence across south Asia.
The relations plummeted in 2020 after a deadly border clash.
India is also part of the Quad security alliance with the US, Australia and Japan, which is seen as a counter to China.
India’s bitter rival, Pakistan, has nuclear weapons as well and the two countries came to close to war in May after militants killed 26 people in Kashmir.
Caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by Donald Trump’s tariff war, New Delhi and Beijing have moved to mend ties.
In October 2024, prime minister, Narendra Modi, met the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, for the first time in five years at a summit in Russia.
Modi is expected to make his first visit to China since 2018 on Aug 31 to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation – a regional security bloc.
Ties between New Delhi and Washington, meanwhile, have been strained by Trump’s ultimatum that India end its purchases of Russian oil.
So far India has remained unfazef.
The US says it will double new import tariffs on India from 25% to 50% by 27th of August if New Delhi does not switch crude suppliers.
The Agni-5 is one of a number of indigenously produced short- and medium-range Indian ballistic missiles aimed at boosting its defence posture against Pakistan, as well as China.
Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile also part of Narendra Modi’s defence strategy against Pakistan
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