India – Russia bilateral relation

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India – Russia Bilateral Relation
News Summary

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reviewed bilateral ties, including energy cooperation, in a phone conversation.
- This was the fifth phone conversation between the two leaders since February.

How is India – Russia bilateral relation?

Political Relation:
- Since the signing of “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000 India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character.
- In 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
- In 2019, Russia awarded PM Modi the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the highest and the oldest Russian state decoration.
- The Annual Summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism.
Bilateral trade
- India’s bilateral trade with Russia has soared to an all-time high of $18,229.03 million in just five months (April-August) of this financial year (2022-23).
  - Of the total $18,229.03 million bilateral trade in April-August, India’s imports from Russia accounted for $17,236.29 million.
  - On the other hand, New Delhi’s exports to Moscow were only worth $992.73 million, leaving a negative trade balance.
    - India had a positive trade balance with Russia from 1997-98 (the most recent year for which comparable data is available) to 2002-03.
    - But from 2003-04, New Delhi’s trade balance with Moscow has remained negative.
- The total annual bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $13,124.68 million in 2021-22, and $8,141.26 million in 2020-21.
- With the sharp spike in trade, Russia has now become India’s seventh biggest trading partner — up from its 25th position last year.
  - The other the six countries include – US, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Indonesia.
Reasons behind this record level of bilateral trade
- The record level of bilateral trade between India and Russia is mainly due to a sudden jump in imports from Moscow, which began to surge earlier this year.
- Fertilisers and fuel together account for over 91% of the total imports from Russia this year.
Multilateral engagements
- Both the countries are active members of SCO, BRICS, G20 etc. India also participated in Eastern Economic Forum, hosted by Russia, on a regular basis.
- India-Russia-Japan trilateral consultations: The first ever trilateral consultations between India, Russia, and Japan at track II level on cooperation in the Russian Far East were held in January 2021.
Defence Cooperation
- India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. This is evident from the joint manufacturing of BrahMos missile, production of AK Rifles in Amethi, 5th generation fighter jet programme etc.
- Recently, India bought S-400 Triumf missile defence system from Russia.
Nuclear and Space Cooperation
- Russia is involved in the development of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in India.
- India-Russia cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space dates back to about four decades.
- Currently, four Indian astronauts are being trained in Russia. These astronauts are part of India’s Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP) – Gaganyaan Mission.

Background:

This year’s India – Russia Annual Summit was scheduled to be held in Russia
- Started in 2000, so far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia.
  - The in-person summit could not take place in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
- President Putin had visited Delhi in December, 2021 for the annual summit.
The current phone call came days after PM Modi decided not to travel to Russia for the annual summit citing scheduling issues.

News Summary

PM Modi held a telephone conversation with Russian President Putin and reiterated the requirement for peace and diplomacy over the crisis in Ukraine.
The two leaders discussed multiple issues including mutual investment and areas like energy cooperation, agriculture, transport and logistics.

Q1) Who made Brahmos missile?

BRAHMOS is a universal long range supersonic cruise missile system that can be launched from land, sea and air. BRAHMOS has been jointly developed by DRDO, India, and NPOM, Russia.