Russia
- share time tested, resilient partnership, rooted in mutual trust, strategic alignment, vision for multipolar world
- cooperation continues across defence, energy, nuclear, multilateral fronts
Key areas
- defence: top supplier to india: S400, AK203, BrahMos, Su-30MKI, INDRA exercise
- trade: $66B in 2023-24, India supports Russia’s Far East via credit lines
- Energy: JV in Sakhalin oil, arctic & Kudankulam NPP
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- Space: colab - aryabhatta, Gaganyaan, GLONASS
- geopolitics: shared multipolar vision, BRICS, SCO, suppor for india’s UNSC bid
- Culture: Namaste Russia
Siginificance
For Russia
- diplomatic space via india’s nutral ukraine stance
- economic sustenance through indian oil market, defence
- strengthens russia bcaked forums BRICS, SCO
For India
- consintent strategic & diplomaic support
- access to key tech in defence, nuclear & space
- energy security via discounted oil/fertilizer
- boosted eurasian connectivity - INSTC, Vladivostok Corridor
- Stabilizing role in Afghanistan
Issues in relations
- declining arms dependence: (70% → 45%)
- limited coop outside defence sector
- strains due to India’s US partnership vs Russia - US tensions
- trade imbalance, slow INSTC progress, NTB from russia
- russia’s limited role in indo pacific strategy
Russia - China - Paksitan Axis
- post Ukraine sanctions, Russia closer to China
- trade hit $240B in arms, tech
- russia lifts arms embargo on pakistan; military drills happning
- Gwadar port access under CPEC granted to Russia
Implications for INdia
- strategic encirclement risk
- russian credibility under strain
- regional power balance destabilizy
- contstrainted diplomatic manoeuvrability
Indo US vs Indo Russian defence ties
| Aspect | Indo-US | Indo-Russia |
|---|
| Strategic Role | support indo pacific, QUAD, free & open order | Limited role in indo pacific |
| Tech | highend tech - predator drones, GE engines, modernization | trad hardware eg. Tank, missiles spares |
| Interoperability | joint exercises eg. Malabar, naval coordination | INDRA exercises, less indo pacific orientation |
| Geopolitical impact | Counters China in SCS & IOR | russia aligns more with china, less balancing role |
| Strategic diversification | reduces overdependence, aligns w/ democracies | concerns over CAATSA, failing reliability |
Rusisa Ukraine war
- causes: NATO expansion, shared histor
- Indian position: strategic autonomy, abstained from UN resolution, sent humanitarian aid
- Impact on India
- inc discounted crude oil imports due to sanctions
- delays in equipment/ spare
- supply chain disruptions, price hikes
- balanced posture b/w west & russia
Way forward
- diversify into pharma, tech, renewables
- leverage trilateral india russia china dialogue for balance
- expedite INSTC & FTA with EU
- deepen multilateral cooperation in BRICS, SCO