INTRODUCTION

Russia has long been a steadfast ally of India, with bilateral relations forming a cornerstone of India's foreign policy. Since the landmark ‘Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership’ in 2000, signed during President Putin's visit, the ties have significantly deepened across multiple domains such as politics, security, defence, trade, science & technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. The elevation of this partnership to a ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ during President Medvedev's visit in 2010 underscores the enduring and multifaceted nature of their collaboration.

Importance of Russia for India and vice-versa

Areas of cooperation

• Annual Summit: The Annual Summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation represents the highest institutionalised dialogue mechanism within the strategic partnership between India and Russia. 

• The latest summit was on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi, where 28 MoUs and agreements were signed.

• The last in-person meeting between the leaders occurred in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during the SCO Summit in September 2022.

• Multilateral Organisation: India and Russia collaborate closely on numerous multilateral platforms, including the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO. 

• The two nations have a long history of cooperation at the UN, with Russia consistently supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC.

• Bilateral Trade: Both countries have prioritised strengthening economic relations, aiming for $50 billion in bilateral investment and $30 billion in trade by 2025.

• Bilateral trade reached a record $65.70 billion in FY 2023-24.

• Defence Cooperation: India and Russia share a deep-rooted defence relationship spanning decades guided by the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC).

• Military Exercises: Regular joint exercises like INDRA and participation in multilateral exercises like Vostok strengthen military ties.

• Major Defence Projects: Significant collaborations include the supply of advanced weapon systems like S-400, production of tanks, Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft, and helicopters, and joint ventures like the AK-203 rifle and BrahMos missile.

• Evolving Partnership: The relationship has progressed from a simple buyer-seller model to a comprehensive cooperation encompassing research, development, and production of cutting-edge defence technologies.

• Inter-Parliamentary Commission:The Inter-Parliamentary Commission between India's Lok Sabha and Russia's State Duma has fostered parliamentary cooperation, meeting five times since its inception. 

• Russia's parliament, comprising the State Duma (Lower House) and the Federation Council (Upper House), has a "Group of Deputies for Asia" with a sub-group focused on India. 

• Similarly, the Indian parliament has an India-Russia Friendship Group. 

• Science and Technology:The two nations collaborate on a wide range of scientific fields, including basic sciences, materials science, mathematics, and advanced areas like spaceflight (Gaganyaan), nanotechnology, and quantum computing.

• Nuclear Energy Partnership: Russia has been a crucial partner in India's nuclear energy sector. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu is the only Indian nuclear power plant established with foreign assistance.

• New Roadmap for Cooperation: A new roadmap for Science, Technology, and Innovation was signed in 2021 to enhance innovation-related engagements, commercialise technologies, and support joint projects with economic and societal impact.

• Regular Bilateral Dialogue: The 12th meeting of the Russia-India Working Group on Science and Technology took place in January 2023, involving representatives from government, academia, and scientific communities of both countries.

• Educational Cooperation: A significant number of Indian students pursue higher education in Russia, with a particular focus on medicine, engineering, economics, and sciences.

• Language and Culture: Russian universities offer courses in Indology and Indian languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, and Pali.

• Innovation Collaboration: The Atal Innovation Mission and the SIRIUS Center are collaborating on innovation projects in areas such as smart mobility, agriculture, clean energy, space, and healthcare.

• Cultural Ties: India and Russia share deep and historic cultural ties

• Literary Influence: Russian literary giants like Leo Tolstoy and Alexander Pushkin have significantly shaped Indian literature and thought.

• Cultural Diplomacy: The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre in Moscow plays a pivotal role in fostering cultural exchange, collaborating with Russian institutions to teach Indian languages.

• Yoga: Widely embraced, with the 10th International Day of Yoga in 2024 celebrated in over 60 regions of Russia.

• Diaspora: People-to-people connections between India and Russia are strengthening, with a gradual increase in bilateral tourism facilitated by the convenience of e-visas.

• Highest Honor for Prime Minister Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received Russia's highest state award, the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First, a testament to the strong bilateral relationship.

Areas of Concern

• Changing Geopolitical Landscape: Russia's growing isolation from Western countries and its closer alignment with China has significantly impacted its longstanding partnership with India.

• Russia and China signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2022 just before the Russian ‘special operations’ in Ukraine.

• China is Russia’s biggest trading partner and largest investor.

• Western Pressure on India: The United States and its allies have strengthened ties with India, viewing it as a counterbalance to China's influence. They have also urged India to reduce its dependence on Russia.

• Russia - Ukraine war: India holds a different opinion on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has stated that the solution lies beyond the battleground. This perspective is shared by the Global South, emphasising the need for both parties to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy

• Trade Imbalance: A significant trade imbalance exists, with India's exports to Russia constituting less than $5 billion of the total $65 billion trade.

• Issues with rupee-rouble trade mechanism: Limited currency convertibility and a non-market-driven exchange rate for the rupee-rouble trade restrict their utility in international transactions.

• Additionally, the complex and costly conversion processes involved further diminish the appeal of bilateral trade between India and Russia.

• Reduced defence dependency: India's defence procurement strategy has shifted significantly, with Russian arms' share in its imports declining sharply from 76% to 36% between the periods of 2009-2013 and 2019-2023, reflecting a diversified approach to counter tensions with Pakistan and China.

• Western sanctions on Russia, particularly affecting semiconductor supply, raise concerns about Russia's ability to fulfil its defence commitments to India.

Way forward

• Deepening Defence Cooperation: India and Russia should expand joint production of military hardware beyond BrahMos, establish joint ventures and facilitate technology transfer in critical areas like jet engines and avionics..

• Expanding Economic Ties: Increasing investments in joint oil and gas exploration, diversifying trade beyond commodities, and promoting rupee-ruble trade

• Strengthening Strategic Convergence: Intensified cooperation in counterterrorism, coordinated stances on regional security challenges, and collaborative efforts in multilateral platforms like BRICS and SCO 

• Promoting People-to-People Contact: Increase the number of scholarships and exchange programs for students and faculty and establish joint academic research centres and programs.

• Cultural Cooperation:Organise cultural festivals, exhibitions, and performances to showcase each other's heritage.Encourage tourism through joint marketing and promotional campaigns.

• Global Health:Cooperation in vaccine development, production, and distribution, exchange expertise in public health and disease prevention.

Strategic Autonomy: Balancing India's Interests

• Definition: Strategic autonomy is the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and foreign policy without being constrained by other states.It's a balance between self-reliance and strategic partnerships.

• Aim: By carefully navigating relationships with major powers, maintaining neutrality, and focusing on core interests, India aims to secure its position as a significant global player while fostering stability and development both domestically and internationally.

• Non-Alignment Legacy: India's strategic autonomy has its roots in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a Cold War-era bloc of states that didn't align with either the United States or the Soviet Union. This legacy has shaped India's approach to international relations, emphasising independence and multilateralism.

• Countering China:.

• To counter China's growing influence, India aligns with Western powers, particularly the United States, while maintaining its strategic autonomy.

• Collaborations with QUAD members (U.S., Japan, and Australia) exemplify India's approach to balancing regional power dynamics and securing its interests.

• Economic Development: Economic growth remains a top priority, necessitating a stable and affordable energy supply.

• Russia, as a key supplier of hydrocarbons, plays a crucial role in India's energy security strategy.

• Long-term contracts and investments in Russian energy projects ensure a steady supply of oil and gas, essential for India's industrial and economic activities.

• Leadership in the Global South:India aims to position itself as a leader and representative of the Global South, advocating for the interests of developing countries.

• This involves promoting South-South cooperation, enhancing trade ties, and providing development assistance.

• By maintaining neutrality, India strengthens its credibility and leadership role among these nations, particularly in forums like BRICS and G20.

• Relations with Gulf and ASEAN Countries:

• Gulf countries are vital for India due to their energy resources, investments, and the large Indian diaspora.

• ASEAN countries are strategic partners in enhancing trade, security cooperation, and countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

  
  

  Short Takes

  The India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC): A bilateral forum established by India and Russia to enhance collaboration in defence and military technology between the two countries. It oversees joint development, production, and procurement of defence equipment, and facilitates strategic dialogue on military issues.

CONCLUSION

India and Russia have maintained a strong relationship for over 75 years, expanding beyond traditional cooperation in military and nuclear sectors. Bilateral trade has surged past the $30 billion target set for 2025, with new models being explored to boos

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
India-Russia Bilateral Relations IR