India Russia Relations, Cooperation, Significance, Challenges

India and Russia have a unique and privileged strategic relationship that has stood the test of time and geopolitical shifts. Based on historical ties and mutual trust, this relationship has evolved from Indo-Soviet friendship during the Cold War to a multifaceted engagement that includes defence, energy, trade, technology, and geopolitical cooperation.

Since 1947, India and Russia have maintained cordial relations. As both countries navigate an increasingly complex global order, their partnership remains a critical component of their respective foreign policies, albeit with new challenges and opportunities.

India Russia Relations Historical Background

The India Russia Relations began during the Soviet era when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and India established close political, economic, and military ties. Russia (erstwhile USSR) has been a longstanding and strong partner for India. The development of India-Russia relations has been a critical pillar of India's foreign policy.

• Early Relations: During the Soviet Union Era (till 1991), India and Russia developed diplomatic relations in 1947, shortly after India gained independence. However, initially, relations were minimal under Stalin's leadership but began improving in the mid-1950s.
• Non-Alignment: During the Cold War, India adopted a non-aligned outlook through the non-alignment movement. However, the Soviet Union was a key ally in countering Western influence and supporting India’s regional interests.
• Treaty of Friendship: The Soviet Union helped India in the 1971 war. In 1971, India and the Soviet Union signed the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation, a watershed moment in their alliance.
• Annual Summit: The India-Russia Annual Summit process was initiated by President Putin during his visit to India in October 2000. Recently, the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit was held in Moscow to solidify the strategic partnership between the two nations, particularly in light of the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
• Strategic Partnership: Since the 2000 signing of the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership,” bilateral ties have significantly strengthened across various sectors, including politics, security, defence, trade, science, technology, culture, and people-to-people connections. 
  • In 2010, this partnership was elevated to a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” Several institutional dialogue mechanisms have been established to facilitate ongoing interaction and cooperation at both political and official levels.
• 2+2 Dialogue: In December 2021, the first 2+2 Dialogue—featuring the foreign and defence ministers from both countries—added a new dimension to bilateral cooperation and took place alongside the Annual Summit.

Areas of Cooperation in India Russia Relations

India and Russia cooperate in multiple areas, including defence, energy, trade, space exploration, and strategic partnerships. This collaboration has been crucial in strengthening their bilateral relations and addressing mutual geopolitical and economic interests.

Trade and Commerce Cooperation

Both India and Russia prioritise improving trade and economic relations. The India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific & Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) is the main government-level mechanism for promoting trade and economic cooperation.

• Bilateral Trade: For FY 2023-24, bilateral trade hit a record $65.70 billion, and the two countries have set a target of $100 billion in trade by 2030, including the use of national currencies to circumvent Western sanctions.
  • Trade Composition: Russia's main exports to India include crude and refined petroleum and coal briquettes, while India's key exports consist of packaged medicaments, crustaceans, and stainless steel.
  • Trade Imbalance: The Ukraine war has altered trade dynamics, making Russia India's top oil supplier and resulting in a trade deficit for India.
• Rise in Imports of Gas and Oil: India's imports of Russian oil and gas have increased significantly in recent years, particularly since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Russia became India's biggest supplier of crude oil.

International Cooperation

India and Russia work closely on multilateral platforms such as the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO. Russia is the BRICS Chair for 2024. 

• Support in the United Nations: Both countries have a history of close cooperation with the United Nations. Russia continues to favour and support India’s candidacy for the permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council.
• Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, India has consistently called for a complete cessation of all hostilities and advocated the path of peace, dialogue, and diplomacy.

Defence Cooperation

Defence cooperation is one of the core components of India-Russia Relations. The cooperation is guided by the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) mechanism, which both countries' Defence Ministers lead. 

• Military Exercise: India and Russia participate in bilateral and multilateral military exercises involving all three services. 
  • For Example INDRA, Vostok 2022.
• Joint Programmes: The joint military programmes between India and Russia include the BrahMos cruise missile programme, the 5th generation fighter jet programme, and the Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme. 
  • India has acquired or leased military equipment from Russia, including the S400 Triumf defence system and the T90S Bhishma.

Even though Russia remains India's primary weapons supplier, accounting for about 36% of its total arms imports, Russia's overall share has been steadily declining as India increasingly relies on Western countries for military hardware and software and Indigenous suppliers.

Energy Cooperation

India has made significant investments in Russia, with state-owned firms investing $16 billion so far. Russia is also an important partner for India in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 

• Nuclear: The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a flagship project between India and Russia.
• Investment in Sakhalin: The Sakhalin-1 asset, purchased for $331 million in 2001, has generated $4.5 billion in revenue over the years, making it one of India's most profitable energy equity investments abroad.
• Recent Developments: India and Russia signed the Action Plan for Prioritising and Implementing Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field. The two countries intend to develop a project for six Russian-designed nuclear power units at a new site in India. 

Science & Technology

India and Russia have a long history of cooperation in the field of science and technology. Today, India and Russia collaborate in basic sciences, materials science, mathematics, and cutting-edge fields such as India's manned spaceflight program (Gaganyaan), nanotechnologies, and quantum computing.

• Space: Russia and India have a longstanding space cooperation history, including the launch of India's first satellites, Aryabhata and Bhaskara-1, by the Soviet Union and the 1988 launch of India's IRS-1A remote sensing satellite by Russia. Currently, the two countries are cooperating closely under India’s first human spaceflight program, “Gaganyaan.”
• Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Cooperation: The new Roadmap for Bilateral STI Cooperation has been developed and agreed upon by both sides to replace the erstwhile ILTP cooperation program. It focuses on new engagements to promote co-innovation and exchanges and will be in force for five years.
• Cooperation During COVID-19: India and Russia closely cooperate in vaccine production. In 2021, SPUTNIK-V became the first foreign-made vaccine approved for emergency use in India. 

Cultural Cooperation

India and Russia share a rich cultural history. Nicholas Roerich, a famous Russian artist and philosopher, eventually settled in Himachal Pradesh. Writers like Leo Tolstoy and Alexander Pushkin had a significant impact on Indian literature and thought. 

• Inter-Cultural Exchange: The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC), Moscow, works closely with leading Russian institutions. Prominent Russian universities and institutions teach Indian languages.
• Diaspora: Bilateral tourism is growing, strengthening people-to-people ties, aided by e-visas for both countries. Notable Indians have received Russian state awards for enhancing Russian-Indian relations, including the Prime Minister, who was honoured with Russia's highest award, the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First.
• Cinema: Indian cinema remains popular in Russia, with regular film screenings throughout the country. 
• Yoga: Yoga has become increasingly popular in Russia since the 1980s, mainly due to its reputation for health benefits.

India Russia Relations Significance

India-Russia relations are significant due to their strategic, economic, defence, and geopolitical dimensions. This partnership strengthens India’s global position, ensures defence cooperation, supports economic growth, and fosters cultural and historical ties.

• Strategic Partnership: Improved India-Russia relations give India a stronger bargaining position in negotiations with Western powers. It also allows India to strategically balance and align with the powers based on its national interests.
• Defence Cooperation: India relies heavily on Russia for defence, with Russian-made military equipment accounting for more than 60% of its total.
• Geopolitical: Russia supports India's demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and its position on the Kashmir issue. Russia can help defuse rising tensions with China.
• Economic and Trade: Both countries focus on sectors such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, oil, precious metals, and agriculture. They aim to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, emphasising the economic significance of their relationship.
• Cultural and Historical Ties: India and Russia have cultural, educational, and historical ties that foster people-to-people interactions and mutual goodwill.

India Russia Relations Challenges

Despite strong historical ties, India-Russia relations face challenges due to changing geopolitical dynamics, including India's growing ties with the U.S., Russia's proximity to China, trade imbalances, differing foreign policy views, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

• Growing India-US Relations: India's strategic partnership with the U.S., especially in defence and technology, sometimes clashes with Russia's interests. Additionally, U.S. sanctions, like CAATSA, make India’s defence dealings with Russia more complicated.
• Decreasing Defence Imports: In recent times, India's defence imports have shifted away from Russia to France and the USA. This shift reflects India's efforts to diversify its defence sources and strengthen strategic partnerships with Western countries while also developing its domestic defence industry.
• Russia-China Proximity: Russia's growing ties with China, especially amid Western sanctions, could complicate India-Russia relations and create strategic discomfort for India due to its rivalry with China.
• Concerns with Foreign Policy: Russian authorities have frequently denounced the Indo-Pacific and the Quad, saying they intend to restrain China.
• Trade Imbalance: Despite increased bilateral trade driven by crude oil imports, India and Russia face a significant trade imbalance. Out of the total $65 billion trade volume, India's exports to Russia account for less than $5 billion.
• Ukraine-Russia Conflict: The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has put India in a diplomatic bind. India has come under fire for failing to condemn the invasion while continuing to cooperate with Moscow on energy and economic issues.

India Russia Relations Way Forward

To strengthen India-Russia relations, both nations need to address existing challenges and explore new areas of cooperation. Key measures include enhancing trade, diversifying energy partnerships, and establishing alternative financial systems.

• Diversification of Trade: There is a need to move beyond traditional sectors and explore new avenues such as technology, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy that offer mutual benefits and address trade imbalances.
• Balancing China: Promoting mutually beneficial trilateral collaboration between Russia, China, and India could help lessen mistrust and suspicion between them.
• Investments: India and Russia need to increase diplomatic and financial investments to complete pending projects in the International North-South Transport Corridor. Both countries should expedite Free Trade Agreement discussions with the Eurasian Union to boost trade and commerce.
• Multilateral Cooperation: There is a need to engage in Multilateral Forums and collaborate within multilateral forums such as BRICS, SCO, and the United Nations to advance shared interests.

India Russia Relations UPSC PYQs

Question 1: What is the significance of Indo-US deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (UPSC Mains 2020)

Question 2: 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 Prelims 2019)

(a) Japan

(b) Russia

(c) The United Kingdom

(d) The United States of America

Ans: (b)

India Russia Relations FAQs

Q1. Does India have good relations with Russia?

Ans. Yes, India and Russia have a longstanding strategic partnership characterised as a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership".

Q2. What is the new agreement between Russia and India?

Ans. At the 22nd Annual Summit, India and Russia agreed to increase bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars by 2030, including the use of national currencies to circumvent Western sanctions.

Q3. When did India Russia relations start?

Ans. On April 13, 1947, diplomatic ties between Russia (Earlier Soviet Union) and India were established even before India gained its independence.

Q4. When did Russia protect India?

Ans. The Soviet Union provided crucial diplomatic and military support to India during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Q5. What does Russia buy from India?

Ans. The main products that India exported to Russia were packaged Medicines ($403M), crustaceans ($120M), and large flat-rolled stainless steel ($100M).