India – Russia Bilateral Relations
UPSC Syllabus:
Prelims: Current events of national and international importance
Mains: GS-II: Impact of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
History of India-Russia bilateral relations
The foundation of the relationship
India and Russia have shared a deep strategic partnership that dates back to the early days of India’s independence.
The relationship was initially based on mutual interests and geopolitical considerations, leading to a strong alliance.
Post-Independence Era: After India’s independence in 1947, the Soviet Union emerged as a key ally, supporting India at various international forums and providing economic and technical assistance.
Cold War Era
The relationship between India and the Soviet Union (USSR) grew significantly stronger during the Cold War era. The geopolitical dynamics of the time saw the two countries closely engaging on various international issues.
Defence and Economic Cooperation:
• The USSR became India’s major supplier of defence equipment, providing crucial assistance during conflicts such as the Indo-Pak wars.
• The Soviet Union also assisted in setting up major industrial projects and provided economic aid, leading to strong economic ties.
1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation:
• This treaty was a milestone in bilateral relations, ensuring mutual strategic and defence assistance, especially during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
Post-Soviet Era
The historic goodwill of the Soviet Union (USSR) era has translated into a strong partnership with modern Russia, adapted to the new geopolitical realities following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
• Despite the dissolution of the Soviet Union (USSR), India and Russia maintained their close ties.
• Bilateral relations were further strengthened with the signing of the “Declaration on India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in 2000, which laid the groundwork for cooperation in various fields including defence, energy, nuclear and space.
Annual Bilateral Summits:
• Since the year 2000, India and Russia have held annual bilateral summits, strengthening their strategic partnership and addressing contemporary global challenges.
Areas of Cooperation between India and Russia
1. Defence Cooperation
India and Russia have strong and multifaceted defence ties. Russia has been a major supplier of defence equipment to India since the Cold War era. Key areas of defence cooperation include:
Weapons and equipment supplies
Recent acquisitions include:
S-400 Missile Systems: India has signed a deal for five S-400 Triumph air defence systems, which are crucial for enhancing its air defence capabilities.
MiG-29 fighter aircraft: Russia has supplied the MiG-29, which is an integral part of the Indian Air Force.
Naval ships: The Indian Navy operates several Russian-origin ships, including the INS Vikramaditya, an aircraft carrier that was originally commissioned as the Admiral Gorshkov.
Joint ventures
Collaborative defence projects highlight the depth of the India-Russia defence relationship:
BrahMos missile: Jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, the BrahMos is one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles.
T-90 tanks: India and Russia have a joint production agreement for T-90 tanks, which are the mainstay of the Indian Army’s armoured corps.
AK-203 rifles: Under a licensed production agreement, India manufactures the AK-203 rifles, a modernised version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Military training and exercises
Regular joint military exercises and training events further strengthen defence ties:
Exercise Indra: This annual exercise between the Indian and Russian armed forces involves both land and naval components, focusing on counter-terrorism and operational interoperability.
2. Energy and trade
Energy cooperation is a cornerstone of India-Russia relations. Russia is an important supplier of crude oil, natural gas and coal to India.
Oil and gas
India imports substantial quantities of Russian oil and LNG, particularly taking advantage of discounted rates:
Crude oil imports: Since the Ukraine conflict, India has increased its imports of Russian crude oil, with imports increasing by over 400% in 2022-2023.
LNG imports: Russia supplies a significant portion of India’s LNG needs, which are essential to meet its growing energy demand.
3. Trade
The bilateral trade between India and Russia has witnessed a significant growth:
Trade Volume: In FY 2023-24, bilateral trade reached an all-time high of $65.70 billion, driven mainly by India’s imports of Russian oil, fertilizers and metals.
Exports: Major exports from Russia to India include oil, fertilizers, precious metals and coal, which have contributed significantly to the trade volume.
4. Nuclear and Space Cooperation
India and Russia have a long history of cooperation in nuclear energy and space exploration.
Nuclear Energy
The Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, developed with Russian assistance, is an important milestone in India’s nuclear energy sector:
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant: The first two units have a capacity of 1,000 MW, And four more units are planned, each with similar capabilities.
Space Exploration
Cooperation in space research includes the development of joint satellite launch and navigation systems:
Satellite Launch: India and Russia collaborate on various satellite missions, enhancing the capabilities of both countries in space exploration.
Navigation Systems: Both countries are working together on satellite navigation systems to improve global positioning and navigation services.
Key Challenges in India-Russia Relations
Dependence on Defence Supplies
India’s heavy dependence on Russian defence equipment poses significant challenges, especially in the context of global sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions have complicated the procurement of maintenance, spares and technological upgrades required for the operational readiness of India’s military assets.
Impact of Sanctions:
• Global sanctions on Russia have disrupted the supply chain of critical defence components.
• This affects the availability of spares and maintenance support for systems such as the S-400 missile system, MiG-29 aircraft and other key military hardware.
Technological Upgrades:
• These sanctions hamper India’s ability to upgrade its Russian-origin equipment with the latest technologies, thereby affecting the modernisation efforts of the Indian armed forces.
Balancing Relations with the West
India’s strategic partnership with Western countries, particularly the United States, sometimes creates friction in its relations with Russia. A delicate diplomatic balance is required to handle these complex relations to ensure India’s interests are protected.
US-India Relations:
• The US-India defence partnership has grown significantly, with major deals for advanced defence systems and increased military cooperation.
• However, this partnership sometimes causes tensions with Russia, which sees the US as a strategic rival.
CAATSA Sanctions:
• The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) imposes sanctions on countries that make significant defence transactions with Russia.
• India’s purchase of the S-400 system from Russia risks triggering CAATSA sanctions, which could complicate its relationship with both the US and Russia.
Russia-China Relations
The growing ties between Russia and China, especially in defence and technology sharing, pose a strategic challenge for India.
This alliance requires India to be vigilant and conduct careful diplomacy to protect its interests.
Defence Cooperation:
• Russia’s defence cooperation with China includes sales of advanced weapons and joint military exercises.
• This partnership enhances China’s military capabilities, which poses a direct strategic challenge to India, especially on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Technological Sharing:
• The transfer of military technologies by Russia to China, which could potentially be used against India, is a significant concern.
• Ensuring that sensitive technologies shared with India are not transferred to China remains a key issue.
Ukraine-Russia War
• The conflict has led to a serious humanitarian crisis and significant geopolitical consequences, including stringent economic sanctions imposed on Russia by Western countries.
India’s Stand on Ukraine-Russia War
• India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with an emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy rather than direct condemnation.
• This approach aims to preserve India’s strategic interests without alienating any major global power.
Calling for peace and respect for international law
• India has called for an international investigation into incidents such as the Bucha massacre and has expressed concern over nuclear threats.
• It advocates respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, aligning with international norms and the UN Charter.
Diplomatic engagement
• India has continued to engage diplomatically with both Russia and Ukraine, positioning itself as a potential mediator.
• Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability.