Question

Explain India’s relationship with Russia.

Answer 1

Hint: India’s relations with Russia are considered an important aspect of India’s foreign policy because Indo-Russian relations are embedded in a history of trust and common interest.

Complete answer:
India and Russia both signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership on 3rd October 2000 and established the institution of annual summit meetings. The declaration was signed between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- Common view on the multipolar world order: Russia and India share a vision of multipolar world order. For both the countries, multipolar world order is the coexistence of several powers in the international system, collective security, negotiated settlements of international conflicts, greater regionalism, an independent foreign policy of all countries and decision making through bodies like the UN that should be strengthened, democratised and empowered.
- Russia’s stand towards India: Russia stands to benefit from this relationship because India is the second-largest arms market for Russia.
- India’s stand towards Russia - India gets meaningful benefits for having healthy relations with Russia such as energy supplies, sharing information on international terrorism, access to central Asia.
- Besides, Indian military gets most of its hardware from Russia.
- India has also strengthened its relationship with Russia for her nuclear energy plans and space industry. India gets the cryogenic rocket from Russia whenever it is needed.
- Moscow has been playing a diplomatic role between India and China. It did not take any side in the conflict as both the countries are close partners of Russia.

Note: Russia and India’s relation has been disrupted with the changing regional order. India’s close ties with the United States and other like-minded countries and on the other hand Russia’s close ties with China has the potential to create hurdles in the Indo-Russian relation in Asia.