India Russia Bilateral Relations| Russia’s Strategic Importance to India

The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia underlines how much emphasis India has laid on its ties with Russia over energy and defense. This visit becomes imperative in light of not only Modi's first bilateral visit immediately after his swearing-in but also against a rather complex geopolitical dynamic and recent historic background. The visit is a signal to domestic and international audiences alike of the strategic importance of India-Russia relations, even as India maneuvers its global diplomatic posture in the midst of continuing conflict in Ukraine and resultant Western sanctions on Russia.

History of India Russia Relations

The India-Russian relationship goes back to the time of the Soviet Union and was one of strategic and economic ties that ran deep. Ties began to seal during the Cold War, when the main ally of India was the USSR and the arms supplier too, with mutual confidence and large military support. More recently, at a time when India's foreign relations are diversifying in an increasingly multi-polar world, the India-Russia partnership has stagnated and evolved simultaneously. Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, the dynamics of this relationship have been altered. It became essential to get an overview of India's foreign policy adjustments in view of global shifts and western sanctions on Russia.

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Strategic Importance of India Russia Relations

The relationship between India and Russia is essential to the global geopolitical balance. On top of that, with Western sanctions and readjustments of global power equations, the relations between India and Russia become highly instrumental in establishing a balance. At the strategic level, Russia continues to be one of the essential partners of India on world forums like BRICS and SCO, besides other UN platforms. However, the Western sanctions against Russia have placed a challenge before India to strike a delicate balance between these highly complex relationships with the West and Russia.

Defence Cooperation

The defence cooperation between India and Russia is the prime anchor of their bilateral relationship. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union was India's principal supplier of military equipment. This has graduated to joint research and development, co-production, and technology transfer. Key defence agreements include a deal for purchasing S-400 Triumf missile systems, MiG-29 fighter aircraft, and Kamov helicopters, besides licensed production of T-90 tanks and Su-30MKI fighters. Military cooperation extends to the INS Vikramaditya, refurbished from a Soviet-era Admiral Gorshkov warship.

This cooperation is of great importance to India, given the continuing situation of stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control. India needs Russia as a stable and reliable source for military hardware and spares. It becomes pretty important for India, therefore, to ensure that Russia does not pass on sensitive defense technology to China, an issue which PM Modi is likely to raise in this visit.

Economic and Trade Relations

The war in Ukraine has been a major factor in Indo-Russian trade, primarily due to the fact that India began purchasing Russian oil at discounted prices. This insulated the economy from worldwide heightening oil prices and aided in containing inflationary pressures. This rise in bilateral trade volumes, therefore, overshot pre-war targets to attain an all-time high of $65.70 billion in FY 2023-24, driven by imports of Russian oil, petroleum products, fertilizers, minerals, precious metals, and vegetable oils.

It demonstrates the increase in economic interdependence between the two—India and Russia—and equally provides adequate pointers toward future economic growth. Moreover, it forewarns that as India tight-ropes in this diplomacy, it will have to also reconcile such an all-encompassing trade relationship with Russia with the critical views that come from its Western allies.

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Energy Cooperation

Russia is a significant partner in India's civilian nuclear energy sector. The construction of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a flagship project of Indo-Russian civil nuclear cooperation. Russia is an important supplier of oil and natural gas to India. Both countries are exploring opportunities in oil and gas exploration and production in Russia and other regions. There is potential for collaboration in renewable energy sectors, such as solar and wind power.

Space Cooperation

India and Russia have a longstanding partnership in space exploration. Russia aided India in its early space program efforts, and the collaboration continues with projects such as the Gaganyaan mission, where Russia is assisting with astronaut training and other technical support. Joint projects in satellite navigation, space research, and remote sensing are key areas of cooperation.

Science and Technology

Joint research and development initiatives in areas like advanced materials, information technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are crucial components of the bilateral relationship. Academic exchanges and collaborative research projects between scientific institutions in both countries further cement these ties.

Geopolitical Alignment

Both countries advocate for a multipolar world order, which seeks to balance power dynamics away from a unipolar or bipolar global landscape. India and Russia collaborate significantly within multilateral forums such as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which work towards common geopolitical and economic goals.

Counter-Terrorism

Both nations face threats from terrorism and have thus cooperated in combating this menace. They share intelligence, conduct joint military exercises, and have agreements in place for counter-terrorism operations. Regular dialogue and exchanges among security agencies bolster efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

Maritime Security and the Arctic Region

India and Russia are focusing on enhancing maritime security cooperation, especially in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Arctic. The melting of Arctic ice opens new potential trade routes and resources, where India sees an opportunity through the Northern Sea Route in collaboration with Russia.

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India's Foreign Policy Shift post-Ukraine Invasion

India's foreign policy on Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was modulated and refracted through the prisms of strategic autonomy and cautious pragmatism. It followed an extremely cautious balancing act that allowed India to abstain on anti-Russia votes within the United Nations and pursue calls for dialogue and diplomacy, not public castigation. While retaining its historic defense relations with Russia, India exploited the discounted Russian oil to guarantee energy security in a world of sanctions. Back on the defense front, most procurement has diversified toward the West, Israel, and indigenization. Economically, India has struck a fine balance between sustaining trade ties with Russia and spreading trade outreach toward the West, all the while manning deftly the challenge of hostile international sanctions. India's leadership in the Global South and a multipolar world order have driven diplomacy. It has built closer relationships with ASEAN countries, Japan, and Australia, while strengthening cooperation among Quad members. Further, engagements by India with multilateral forums like G20, BRICS, and the UN prove that India believes in global cooperation and a much-needed balanced dialogue in this shifting geopolitical landscape.

Key Areas of Concern 

Here are the key areas of concern in the India-Russia relationship post-Ukraine invasion:

• Defense Procurement: India's dependence on Russian military hardware could be problematic due to potential disruptions from international sanctions on Russia.
• Energy Security: While beneficial short-term, India's increased dependence on Russian oil imports might face scrutiny and pressure from Western nations.
• Economic Sanctions: Navigating economic transactions and investments amidst stringent international sanctions against Russia poses legal and financial risks.
• Diplomatic Balancing Act: India's need to maintain good relations with both Russia and Western powers, especially the US and members of the Quad, creates a diplomatic tightrope.
• Geopolitical Alignments: With global polarizations intensifying post-invasion, India's strategic autonomy may be tested, influencing its position in broader geopolitical contexts.
• Technology Transfers and Collaborations: Technological and strategic collaborations with Russia might face disruption due to isolation and sanctions imposed on Russia.

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Conclusion

The visit of Prime Minister Modi to Russia comes at a juncture when it is imperative that India reassures the relationship within the broader framework of its strategic interests. This visit is not only in continuation of the annual bilateral summits that fostered deep ties over the decades but has an aim and objective of conquering contemporaneous challenges and opportunities. These visit outcomes could have long-term implications for bilateral defense and economic cooperation, especially in ensuring that Russia does not get too close to China in ways that may freefall into jeopardizing Indian interests.

For India, at a time when the very world structure is rapidly changing, bilateral relations are of prime importance. A relationship that has been strategic and historic, especially on defense and energy, underlines the need for continued and nuanced engagement with Moscow. Indeed, as India further cements its path on the global scene, its relationship with Russia will be one of the most critical facets of India's foreign policy.

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UPSC Previous Year Questions on Indo-Russian Relations

Year	Question
2021	"Relations between India and Russia are rooted in history, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation." Discuss.
2020	What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Practice Questions for UPSC Mains

1. Examine the evolving dynamics of the India-Russia strategic partnership in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Discuss how this relationship impacts India's geopolitical interests and its stance on global issues.
2. Assess the implications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on global supply chains and economic stability. How should India navigate this complex landscape to safeguard its economic and strategic interests?