Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, during his Moscow visit, reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening defense ties with Russia.
Highlights include:
- Military Cooperation: Focus on strengthening collaboration under the 21st IRIGC-M&MTC and supporting the “Make in India” initiative.
- Meetings: Discussions with Russian President Putin and plans for PM Modi’s upcoming visit to the BRICS summit.
- Strategic Partnership: Reaffirmation of the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” and ongoing defense projects.
- New Opportunities: Emphasis on boosting domestic defense capabilities and exploring new areas of collaboration.
Historical Phases:
- Early Years (1947-1955): Limited relations initially; improved after Nehru’s 1955 visit to Moscow and Khrushchev’s visit to India. Key projects: Bhilai and Bokaro steel plants.
- Cold War Era (1955-1991): Strong military, strategic, and economic partnership. Milestones:
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- Soviet arms support during the 1962 Sino-Indian War and 1971 Indo-Pak War.
- 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation.
- Post-Cold War (1991-2000): Decline in ties post-Soviet Union dissolution; limited progress despite the 1993 Treaty of Friendship.
- Strategic Partnership (2000-Present): Elevated to a strategic partnership in 2000, enhancing cooperation across defense, trade, science, and culture.
Key Areas of Cooperation:
- Geopolitical:
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- Collaboration in BRICS, SCO, and G20.
- Advocacy for a multipolar world and anti-terrorism initiatives.
- Defense:
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- Major supplier of arms; projects like BrahMos missile and AK-203 rifles.
- Regular military exercises (e.g., INDRA).
- Economic:
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- Rising bilateral trade; ruble-rupee trade arrangements.
- India’s involvement in Russian Far East development.
- Science & Research:
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- Cooperation in nuclear energy (Kudankulam) and space (Gaganyaan).
- Health collaboration (e.g., Sputnik V vaccine).
- Cultural:
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- Exchange programs, cultural centers, and a diaspora of ~30,000-40,000 in Russia.
Significance:
- Geopolitical:
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- Russia backs India’s UNSC bid and Kashmir position.
- Balances China’s aggression.
- Defense:
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- Critical supplier; 60-70% of India’s military hardware is Russian-origin.
- Economic:
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- Discounted Russian oil helps curb inflation.
- Potential Free Trade Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union.
- Strategic:
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- Enhances India’s leverage with Western powers and offsets China’s influence.
Challenges:
- Growing India-US ties strain relations with Russia.
- Russia-China alignment raises neutrality concerns on Sino-Indian issues.
- Trade imbalance with India exporting <$5 billion out of $65 billion total trade.
- Delays in critical defense supplies like S-400 systems due to Ukraine war.
- India’s neutral stance on the Ukraine crisis invites criticism.
Way Forward:
- Maintain neutrality in the Ukraine crisis and advocate for rule-based solutions.
- Strengthen defense joint ventures to secure supply chains.
- Develop strategic infrastructure (e.g., North-South Transport Corridor, Eurasian FTA).
- Explore Eurasian opportunities under Russia’s “extensive Eurasian partnership.”
- Communicate clearly with the West about Russia’s strategic importance.
