India-Russia ties ‘higher than highest mountain’

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Moscow for a three-day trip. His main meeting was with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Singh’s visit came five months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, where both countries agreed to further strengthen their defence ties.

Meeting Highlights:

• Friendship and Cooperation: During his meeting with President Putin, Rajnath Singh emphasized the deep and enduring relationship between India and Russia. He described the partnership as "higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean."
  • India has always stood by Russia and will continue to do so in the future. This remark reflects the strong, long-standing ties between the two countries, particularly in defence and military cooperation.
• India-Russia Military Cooperation: Rajnath Singh co-chaired the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Cooperation. The session focused on the ongoing and future collaboration between the two nations in defence matters.
  • Both sides agreed that their partnership holds significant potential and that their combined efforts will lead to positive outcomes in the future.
• Defence Deals and S-400: One of the key points discussed was the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system. India had previously signed a deal with Russia for the purchase of these advanced missile systems.
• Upcoming Russian Visit: President Putin is expected to visit India next year for the annual summit talks with Prime Minister Modi. This visit will further solidify the defence and strategic relations between the two nations.

India-Russia Relations (brief background)

• Diplomatic Relations: India and Russia (then the Soviet Union) established diplomatic relations in April 1947, shortly before India's independence.
• Cold War Era: The Soviet Union became a crucial ally for India during the Cold War, particularly during conflicts like the 1971 war with Pakistan. The Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was signed in the same year.
• Supportive Role: The USSR mediated during the 1965 India-Pakistan war and consistently used its veto in the UN Security Council to support India on issues like Kashmir.
• Post-Cold War Relations: After the Cold War, the relationship continued with annual summits and strategic partnership agreements established in 2000 and upgraded in 2010.
• India and Russia have also been holding so-called 2+2 meetings – joint meetings with foreign and defence ministers – since 2021.

Current relationship between India and Russia

• Russia remains a key strategic partner for India for both practical and ideological reasons.
• Economic Cooperation: Indiabenefits significantly from access to discounted Russian crude oil, which has increased from less than 2 per cent of India’s total imports before the Russian invasion of Ukraine to over 40 per cent in June 2024.
  • Indian companies have also benefitted from exporting refined Russian oil products, some of which have found their way onto Western markets.
  • India and Russia aim to increase bilateral trade from $68 billion to $100 billion by the end of this decade.
  • Connectivity initiatives include the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridorand the International North-South Transport Corridor.
• Military Cooperation: Russia accounts for over 50% of India's military hardware. Key acquisitions include the S400 missile system and joint projects like the BrahMos missile.
  • Managed Decline: While Russia remains a key partner, India's dependence on Russian arms has decreased from 76% in 2009-2013 to 36% in 2019-2023, driven by a push for diversification and domestic production.
• Nuclear Collaboration: India and Russia have historical ties in nuclear cooperation, including an agreement to build six nuclear power plants in Tamil Nadu.
• Pragmatic Approach: India maintains a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, abstaining from UN votes condemning Russia, while also expressing concern over the war's humanitarian impacts.