• India and Russia are considered two poles of global geopolitics which maintain an all-weather friendship with very minor problems.
• Let’s Make a Travel Through Events of India – Russia Relation. 

Areas of Cooperation 

Political Relation

• India – Russia maintain their cordial relationship from time to time through engagement in high-level summits. Some of the notable summits include Sochi Summit which took place in 2018 and the Vladivostok summit in 2019.
• Other ways of engaging include the establishment of the India – Russia intergovernmental commission and cooperation in the case of the Syrian crisis.
• The most recent engagement with Russia is initiating a form of 2+2 dialogue that results in the signing of many landmark agreements like 

• The two sides signed two contracts for the manufacture of AK-203 rifles under a joint venture in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The two countries also signed an agreement for military technology cooperation for the next decade, from 2021 to 2031.
• Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), as well as a Navy-to-Navy cooperation MoU are at the advanced stages of conclusion.
• Two countries also signed the Protocol of the 20th India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC).

• As we analyse the relationship between India – and Russia we can identify events of reciprocal support that include 

• Russian support during the 1971 Indo-Pak war and India not voting in the UN against the USSR when human rights allegations came.
• The most recent one is India’s absence from the UN voting against Russia in the limelight of the Ukraine invasion and engagement of Russia in the oil trade.

• Other Political Support Provide by Russia

• Russia supports India for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
• Russia backed India’s membership in the Nuclear Supply Group.

• India and Russia share a common issue like

• Terrorism that Chechiyan rebels in Russia and China supported insurgency in Northeast India, and Pakistan supported extremist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The global dominance of the USA led the Western world in geopolitics.  

• Common international platforms shared between India and Russia are 

• BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
• G2O
• United Nations
• Australia Group
• Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
• India-Russia-Japan trilateral consultations

Defence Relation 

• In the field of defence, India and Russia have a long-standing and broad partnership, with Russia providing over 60% of India’s defence equipment but in recent days India is diversifying arms procurement from countries like USA, Israel etc..
• Some of the major defence deals between India – and Russia are 

• T70 , T 90 Tanks during 1970 – 90
• Procurement of Kiev class aircraft carrier ( INS Vikramaditya) in 2000
• Russia has made technology transfer to India for production weapons like BrahMos Missile System  , SU-30 aircraft.
• Indian procurement of weapons like Ka-226T helicopters, igla missiles , S – 400 air defence system.

• Joint Military Exercise between both countries are 

• INDIRA – Army Exercise
• Avi INDIRA – Air Exercise

Economic Relation

• Intensifying trade and economic relations have been identified as a priority area by both the leaders. 
• The targets of increasing bilateral investment were revised to US $50 billion and bilateral trade to US $30 billion by 2025.
• Russia is one of the main partners of India’s Make in India initiative.
• Joint investment in projects by both countries are

• Operationalization of the ‘Green Corridor’ project
• International North-South Transport Corridor

• Institutional mechanisms for economic development like 

• India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific & Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC)
• India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue (IRSED)

• Major items of export from India include electrical machinery, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, iron & steel, apparels, tea, coffee, and vehicle spare parts. 
• Major items of import from Russia include defense equipment, mineral resources, precious stones and metals, nuclear power equipment, fertilizers, electrical machinery, articles of steel, and inorganic chemicals.
• As part of boosting trade India – Russia has currency swap mechanism which also bypass US dominated SWIFT mechanism

Cooperation in the Area of Science and Tech 

• Major landmark steps taken are 

• Russia give technology support to the Kudankulam Nuclear plant
• Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS provides training to Indian astronauts as part of the Gaganyan project
• Joint Arctic expedition
• The Monex expedition to study monsoons was conducted in 1973.
• Support for navigation by GLONASS  as an alternative to USA-powered GPS
• Traditional Knowledge Digital Library.

Cultural Relation 

• Cultural exchange programs like the teaching of Indian languages to Russian people and Russian to Indians.
• Russian’s studies on yoga, and Ayurveda in India.
• Educational exchange programs like the AIM-SIRIUS program.

Joint Fight Against Covid 19

• During the crisis of covid India supplied many life-saving medicines to Russia as part of the Vande Bharat Mission and in return, Russia provided Sputnik vaccines.

Significance of Russia for India

• To act as a pressure builder on China which was evident during the Galwan clash, where Russia called for mediation.
• Russia is significant for arms and technology supply 
• Source of investment in Make in India
• Source of cheap crude oil for India that is evident during the Ukraine crisis.

Issues in Relation

• Russia – Pakistan  – China nexus and conducting joint exercises.
• Supply of S 400 to Russia
• India’s US tilt by engaging multiple platforms like QUAD. Purchasing US arms like Apache.