India-Russia’s ‘Deep-Rooted’ Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 16th Brics Summit in Kazan.  In their bilateral meeting, the Prime Minister expressed India's willingness to provide all cooperation for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

Key-takeaways of the Bilateral Meeting

• The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including political, economic, defence, energy, and people-to-people ties. This was their second meeting this year as the two leaders had earlier met in Moscow for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in July 2024.
• PM Modi and Putin exchanged views on India-Russia engagement in multilateral fora, in particular in
• They also shared views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
• PM Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward in resolving conflicts.

What is the history of India-Russia Relations? 

• 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.

What is the current relationship between India and Russia? 

• Russia remains a key strategic partner for India for both practical and ideological reasons.
• Economic Cooperation: India benefits 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 corridor and 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. 

What is India’s stand on Russia-Ukraine war?

• Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a conflict since 2022. Since the start of the war in 2022, India has called for resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
• India has neither condoned nor condemned Russia’s actions. The Indian government has been vocal in expressing its displeasure of the war and Modi has said that now is ‘not an era of war’.
• India is suggesting that alternative approaches be explored to find a peaceful path to end the conflict. 

Related PYQ

Q: Arms trade, economic ties and congruent geo-political interests are no longer the three pillars of India – Russia relationship in the emerging strategic context. Comment (PSIR Optional, 2023)