GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Bilateral Relationship
Context: The recent External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Russia holds significance amid efforts to renew ties between India and Russia.
Key Highlights of the visit:
| Highlights | Details |
| Economic Collaboration | Emphasis on strategic collaboration in defence, space exploration, nuclear energy, and technology sharing. |
| Agreement on the expansion of Russian hydrocarbon exports to India | |
| Program of Cooperation in the Far East | Finalization of the program of cooperation in the Far East. The decision to hold an early meeting of EaEU-India FTA negotiations. |
| India and Russia signed a Protocol on Consultations for 2024-2028, aiming to advance military and economic cooperation, energy trade, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. | |
| Agreement on Nuclear Power Plants | India and Russia signed agreements for future units of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu. |
| India operates two Russian-built nuclear plants, with four more under construction in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. The Kudankulam nuclear power plant, India’s largest, began construction in March 2002 with Russian technical assistance. The first unit has operated at its 1,000 MW design capacity since February 2016, with full capacity expected by 2027. | |
| Diplomatic Initiatives | Discussion on multilateral forums and international organizations: BRICS, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), and UN affairs. |
Timeline of the Relationship:
Important Dimensions of India-Russia Relations:
| Dimensions | Details |
| Political Relations | The Annual Summit meeting between the PM of India and the Russian President is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership. |
| The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was elevated to the level of “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” in 2010. | |
| International/Multilateral Organisations and Connectivity Projects | BRICS, SCO, G20, International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) |
| Defence and Security Cooperation | Evolution of India-Russia military-technical cooperation from a buyer-seller framework to joint research, development, and production of advanced defence technologies |
| Russia is India’s top military supplier accounting for 45% of total defense imports. | |
| Examples include the BrahMos Missile System, licensed production of SU-30 aircraft, and T-90 tanks. Deal for five S-400 batteries in 2018, and supply of MiG-29-K aircraft and Kamov-31 | |
| Cooperation is guided by the Agreement on the Programme for Military-Technical Cooperation for 2021-2031 | |
| Trade and Economic Relations | Revised targets of increasing bilateral investment to US $50 billion and bilateral trade to US $30 billion by 2025. |
| Bilateral investments surpassed the previous target of $30 billion in 2018, leading to a revised target of $50 billion by 2025. | |
| Nuclear Energy | 2014 Strategic Vision for strengthening cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India with Russian cooperation. |
| Space Cooperation | Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. MoU between ISRO and ROSCOSMOS on Joint Activities in the field of Human Spaceflight Programme (Gaganyaan). |
| Science & Technology | Working Group on S&T under IRIGC-TEC. |
| Institutional mechanisms: Integrated Long Term Programme (ILTP) and Basic Science Cooperation Programme. | |
| Initiatives: Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), GIAN, and Russia-India Network (RIN) of Universities. | |
| Cultural Cooperation | A strong tradition of Indian studies in Russia. Strong Russian interest in Indian dance, music, yoga, and Ayurveda. |
Challenges faced by India India-Russia relationship.
- Issues related to Defence – There has been a gradual decline in the orders of India from Russia because of India’s desire to diversify its defence imports from other countries like Saudi Arabia, the USA, and Israel.
- Russia’s apprehensions over India’s foreign policy – Russian officials have repeatedly criticized the idea of the Indo-Pacific and the Quad, arguing that it is meant to contain China. Russia believes that India is currently an object of the Western countries.
- The USA factor – The source of divergence between Indian and Russian interests lies in the continuing problems that Russia faces in its relations with the US. The consequence of this confrontation is that Moscow has increasingly leaned on China both for support as well as a way to undermine American power.
- Further, India also signed all the Foundational agreements with the US. Such as LEMOA, COMCASA, and BECA.
- Due to these developments, Russia changed their decades-old policy and started supplying China with weapon systems like the Sukhoi 35 and the S-400 missile defence system.
- The China Factor – Russia’s increasing bond with China also to some extent brings strain to Indo-Russia relations.
- Failure of RIC — Russia already proposed a Russia-India-China (RIC) forum of foreign ministers. However, there has been no major diplomatic success for RIC due to India’s unresolved issues with China.
- China-Russian ties are growing due to their shared interest in opposing the US. The intense geostrategic rivalry between China and the US in the region. Russia which opposes the US joined hands with China. This is evident as Russia joined the Chinese One Belt One Road initiative.
Way forward
- India has to rebuild on its strengths and common concerns with the Russians.
- Both India and Russia have to identify their strengths and common concerns like developing joint projects in third countries. Such as the involvement of India and Russia in the Rooppur nuclear plant project in Bangladesh.
- India needs to deepen its scientific and technological relations with Russia since a base for this already exists.
- India can use some creative means to build a Russia-India-China (RIC) alliance.
- India needs to balance its relationship between Russia, China and the US. This is essential after the US conducted a Freedom of Navigation operation(FONOP) in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Conclusion
On the whole, Both India and Russia will have to learn to navigate their relationship amidst challenges emerging not just from bilateral factors but also regional and global ones, as both countries seek to strengthen their position at a time of flux in the international order.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
What is the significance of Indo-US defence dealsover Indo-Russian defencedeals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (UPSC 2020)
Prelims Links:
Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries? (UPSC 2019)
(a) Japan
(b) Russia
(c) The United Kingdom
(d) The United States of America
Ans: B
