- 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.