India Russia Relations
- India’s Foreign Minister’s recent visit to Moscow holds great importance for the India-Russian relationship, going beyond the well-established special and privileged alliance. A high degree of political participation on bilateral and international issues is anticipated given the dynamic global geopolitical scene.
Why is there strategic significance in the relationship between Russia and India?
- The Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of 1971 stated that following the Indo-Pak War of 1971, China and the US backed Pakistan, while Russia supported India.
- Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between India and Russia: In October 2000, relations between India and Russia took on a whole new dimension, with increased levels of cooperation in practically every aspect of the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
Energy Safety:
- One of the world’s greatest natural gas deposits is found in Russia. Furthermore, India has started the shift towards a greater reliance on natural gas.
- Hydrocarbons are being intensively imported by India from the Russian Far East.
- India considers Russia to be a valuable ally in the field of nuclear energy peaceful applications.
- With Russian technical support, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being constructed in Tamil Nadu.
Maintaining Defence Relationships:
- It is governed by the two nations’ signed Agreement on the Programme for Military Technical Cooperation. Currently, Russia controls over 47% of India’s total armaments imports.
- But historically, it made up 65% of India’s imports of weapons.
- Russian T-72 and T-90S tanks make up the vast bulk of India’s armoured force, as does its fleet of ground-attack aircraft, which includes MiG-21, Su-30, and MiG-29 versions.
- India and Russia collaborated to build the BrahMos missile.
- India and Russia inked a 5.43 billion USD contract in October 2018 for the S-400 Triumf missile.
- India has more than half of its conventional submarines built by the Soviet Union.
What are Russia’s and India’s main areas of disagreement?
Russia’s Strategic Crossroads:
China and Russia’s Closer Relations:
- Russia and China are introducing a geopolitical dynamic that could affect India’s traditional strategic considerations as they deepen their military cooperation, collaborate on cooperative economic efforts, and coordinate on many diplomatic fronts.
Gaining Closer Connection with Pakistan:
India’s diplomatic conundrum:
Engagement of Security with the United States:
- India and the USA have now signed each of the four foundational accords. Over the past 20 years, India has purchased weapons valued at USD 20 billion.
- India faces a difficult decision between its “special and privileged partnership” with Russia and its “comprehensive global strategic partnership” with the US as a result of its great power calculations.
Crisis in Ukraine:
Reduction in Economic Participation:
- Declining Defence Imports: Due to Russia’s aim to diversify its defence imports and, consequently, increased competition with other suppliers, there has been a progressive reduction in India’s orders from Russia.
- Poor After-Sale Services: India expresses dissatisfaction with Russia’s provision of maintenance and after-sale services.
Way Forward:
- The trust and shared interests that underpin the partnership between Russia and India withstand changes in the world. The success of India-Russia ties in the coming years will depend on cultivating resilience, honest communication, and a shared commitment to world peace in the face of these forces. “Geopolitics and strategic convergence will always keep India-Russia ties on a positive trajectory,” as the Indian Foreign Minister correctly stated.
