India's Defense Ministry announced the successful test-firing of its nuclear-capable Agni-5 medium-range ballistic missile from the eastern state of Odisha, CNN reported.
According to the ministry, the missile has confirmed all the declared technical and operational characteristics. The Agni-5 has a range of over 5,000 km, which allows it to reach the territories of China and Pakistan, which are India's rivals.
The context for the launch was tense relations between India and China, which escalated after border clashes in the Himalayas in 2020. China is currently actively expanding its military potential, so India is also strengthening its defense capabilities. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China currently has about 600 nuclear warheads, while India has about 180.
The Agni-5 missile is also part of India's defense strategy to deter Pakistan, with which India has had a conflict this year. According to SIPRI, Pakistan imports 81% of its weapons from China.
Recently, relations between China and India have begun to improve after their leaders met at the BRICS summit last year. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China in the coming days, where he will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in New Delhi before that. The parties confirmed their intentions to resume direct flights, open two sites in Tibet for Indian pilgrims and resume the issuance of tourist visas.
Meanwhile, relations between India and the United States have become more complicated after Donald Trump's announcement that he might impose a 50% tariff on Indian oil from Russia. Analysts believe that this could bring India and China closer together amid a changing geopolitical balance.