Positioning the Indo-Russian Relationship in the Dynamic Global Order
- Sanighdha S.
- Sep 28
- 12 min read
An Analysis of the All-Weather Friendship
No matter how low the temperature dips below minus during the Russian winter, India-Russia friendship has always remained in ‘plus’, it is full of warmth. The relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect. On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to the mind of every Indian is India’s all-weather friend (sukh-dukh ka saathi) and a trusted ally.
- Sh. Narendra Modi
(Prime Minister of India, Moscow, 2024)
Introduction- Indo-Russian Bond of Friendship
When the Indian government today stands tall against the many diatribes of the current Trump disposition in the United States of America, there is a silent all-weather friend of India, standing calmly with India, to support her and to let her tread her own path in the global diplomatic order and international dynamics.
It is Russia, the former USSR, without a doubt.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in the early months of 2022, nobody assumed that the current war would go on for so long. Both sides of course, have their own reasons to carry their own actions, because both of them are sovereign enough to take their decisions. But while some might find fault in the actions undertaken by both, the ‘righteousness’ approach that was adopted by the Western nations (across the Atlantic) did not do well for the global economy, because the sanctions imposed on Russia, truly shrinked the global oil demand and supply chain mechanisms. This gave way to fears that the whole buying and selling of oil in the international market can literally lead to lopsided growth and loss.
This is where to stabilise the international oil market and to equibalance the global order, India started doing a little bit of more trade with Russia in terms of oil and related products. However, the present accusations of the Trump Administration, especially the brazen and ill-informed statements being given by Trump himself, and Navarro (his close aide), are accusations that are being discarded and addressed by the Indian administration, with much calm and composure. This shows how India, has always favoured a balanced multilateral order, without going against any established UN norm or international agreements, with much restraint and respect. India does not want any kind of confrontation or conflict, but believes in silent consultation that has the power to resolve issues of the highest magnitude. This gives a brief of what the Indian and Russian relationship actually means in the eyes and books of both India and Russia.
The recent meetings between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Indian Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and the bonhomie exhibited by both the leaders, the comfort that their camaraderie showed, and the diplomatic closeness that the leaders showed in their build-up talks, has positioned the Indo-Russian relationship in a positive light, and essentially the world also saw that. Not only this, their collective meeting with Chinese Premier Xi was a bonhomie to watch, which took the world leaders for a ride. Not only this, since Trump took a jibe at India by imposing a 25% tariff and an additional 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil, India knew that the Indo-US negotiations shall fall flat for sometime.
This resulted in the coming together of the Troika- Russia, India, and China (otherwise-RIC- their collective international forum), and working collectively to counter the US actions with a composed silent statement. This silent statement resulted in the successive meetings between India’s foreign affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Wang Yi of China, between Dr. S. Jaishankar and Vladimir Putin, and between Ajit Doval and the Russian President Vladimir Putin. India therefore has an extremely positive relationship with Russia. The Indo-Russian relationship is one such relationship in this world that has stood the test of time, even in the most turbulent scenarios. This forms the backdrop of what is the future course of this relationship, that will be analysed in this research article. However, before understanding the same, it is pertinent to look into the historical praxis of the relationship, so as to formulate a strong basis of the future path.
The Indo-Russian Relationship: A Historical and Contemporarily Evolving Perspective
India and Russia share a very historical and ancient relationship, that has stood the test of time. Russia started its journey as the USSR in the new world- the United Soviet Socialist Republics. India established close diplomatic, political, cultural, traditional, people-to-people ties, et al.
The Embassy of India at Russia states that, “Russia has been a long standing and time tested partner for India. Development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India’s foreign policy. Since the signing of the Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership in October 2000, India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas, including political, security, defense, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people ties. During the visit of the Russian President to India (2010), the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”. As India and Russia, both navigate a complex global order, their time-tested all-weather friendship shall now come in handy, because the ever-changing global order requires a nation to have at least one trustworthy friend, who shall guard against all that might hurt the interests of its friendly nation. For India, that is Russia; and honestly, for Russia, that is India. India has always looked up to Russia in times of crisis, that concern India’s interests in the periphery of Russia.
Politically and Ideologically, India and USSR established close relationship between themselves right after India’s independence in the year 1947. India and Russia also have a long standing relationship based on the meetings held on the sidelines of the Annual Summits between the two nations. The 2024 Annual Summit also resulted in the release of a Joint Statement titled, “India-Russia: Enduring and Expanding Partnership”. India and Russia also share a close economic cooperation agreement till 2030. Russia has also conferred the highest State award- Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First-Called- upon Prime Minister Sh. Modi. It must be noted that since India’s independence, India has always showcased an inclination for socialist-welfarist philosophy in order to carry out government functions in the best possible way, for the democratic functioning of the governance apparatus. This meant that India would be more inclined towards the governance policies and schemes of the USSR, than the Western capitalist nations. This resulted in predictable closeness between India and Russia, along with other socialist-welfarist nations. However, India still wanted to tread its own path and thereby opened a new front of NAM (Non-Alignment Movement Nations). Nevertheless, the closeness remained. This was also clearly visible in the initial amendment Acts that were carried out with respect to the Indian Constitution, especially the Ist Amendment Act that led to a series of case laws leading to the propounding of doctrines of prospective overruling and the Basic Structure Doctrine (Kesavananda Bharathi Case, 1973). Even so, in today;’s 21st century, India has closely treaded the path of socialism-welfarism, and restrained capitalism, keeping the goodwill and service of the citizens in mind. These political and ideological happenings, truly related India and Russia, not just through soul but also through breath and life.
Diplomatically and internationally, Russia has always supported India in its rightful stance. Even Russia knows that India will never take any step or tread any path that would infringe the national sovereignty and integrity of any other Nation-State. This was quite visible recently as well when Russia supported India in her efforts to retaliate proportionally against the Pahalgam attack transgressors, that took place in April this year. Russia was given timely updates and made to comprehensively understand India’s position and her given right to answer back to the perpetrators and their controllers. Also, India and Russia also share many a forum stages such as the UN (The United Nations), G20, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and the RIC (Russia, India, China grouping). These forums and world regional groupings hold a very major place in the global geo-political scenario, more so because these forums comprise of nations that are the major economies of the world, as well as the countries hosting the largest populations. Thus, the Indo-Russian relationship has evolved over time for better prospects, and recently the same was also visible when after the Alaska Summit with the US President Donald J. Trump, Putin called up the India Prime Minister to update him regarding the same, followed by the successful SCO meetings that both the leaders had.
Apart from this, India and Russia are closely connected to each other in the field of diaspora and culture as well. The establishment of numerous schools and departments at leading Russian universities to study and understand the Devnagiri script, the Indology system, the culture and traditions of India, and the religious principles of Indian belief systems, all point out to the importance given to the Indian subcontinent and her values. The establishment of a number of Vaishnava centres heralded by ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness-heralded by Srila Prabhupada) as well as the in-depth analysis of Vaishnavism as a belief system points out to the interest that has sparked in the Russian population regarding India. It is also a well-known fact that the movies featuring the legendary Raj Kapoor are still quite famous in Russia and the Indian cinematic presence is well-perceived in Russia. The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC), Moscow maintains a very close relationship and alliance with various leading Russian institutions. Yoga is another point of convergence between India and Russia, with both nations agreeing upon the importance of good mental health, with yoga driving the change in the present scenario.
In the field of education as well, India and Russia have collaborated very closely with each other. Russian universities and their course availability attract the young Indian students towards itself, and therefore Russia hosts a number of Indian students who have travelled to Russia to engage actively in the academic pursuits. It is the students of medical stream that that comprise maximum of the Indian student diaspora in Russia. Hinduism, Sanskrit language evolution, understanding the Devanagari script amongst others are some of the most passionate fields that are academically pursued by the Russian students in order to understand India. The Atal Innovation Mission of India and the SIRIUS Centre also work together collaboratively so as to enhance the Indo-Russian ties, for all future purposes as well. Apart from this, the Indian Embassy in Moscow also states that, “in context of collaboration in higher education including between universities/institutes, the following main mechanisms are playing an active role - Educational Exchange Programme (EEP) between the two governments, Network of Higher Education Institutions of India and Russia (known as the RIN), Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), and the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) programme.” This shows the comprehensive and collaborative relationship between India and Russia, thus forming a very strong ground for future prospects (Singh, 2012).
Apart from this, India and Russia are also closely connected in areas such as science and technology cooperation, parliamentary and political understanding, as well as defense cooperation. This shows a continuous and sustained upward trend in the Indo-Russian relationship, that seems quite different and aloof from whatever happens in the world. This is because of the fact that the trust and cooperation between both the nations has developed over a long period of time, inclusive of both peaceful and turbulent periods. India and Russia have never gone against each other or back stabbed each other whenever attacked by a third party. This shows how much both the nations trust each other despite all external threats or bargains. India and Russia have always walked a comfortable line with each other and treaded a diplomatic tightrope with each other whenever taken for granted by third parties. Thus the significance of this relationship is a lot to ignore even for a second for both the nations.
Not only that, it is considered that India and Russia’s relationship with each other is quite important for stable world order as well. Russia and China are also each other’s partners in the global world order, however, it is the quite Indian influence on Russia that has been sustained through decades, that has helped Russia to not grow too close to China and aid in a lopsided world order growth. India and Russia while engaging in long term defense and oil supply deals, also take into account international norms and regulations, which has prevented Russia from straying away from the path of disorder or anarchy, in eyes of global partnership alliances. This has aided both the nations to balance their ties with Western powers as well, which can be a challenge quite impossible to conquer. India and Russia have had displayed solidarity during the Cold War era through the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation during the Bangladesh Liberation War (when the USA and Pakistan decided to engage incessantly against India), and Russian support also coming in during India’s efforts to liberate Goa as well as take a tougher stance on Kashmir through decades, since independence (Chandra, 2016). In the year 2000, the Strategic Partnership Declaration as well as the 2010 Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership have really given the required status to the Indo-Russian relationship, as has always been envisaged. Both the nations have constantly and regularly also paid interest in the trade relationship that is shared bilaterally and enjoy a comfortable relationship in that regard as well.
Currently, India and Russia enjoy strategic autonomy and enhanced sovereign powers with regard to the response that both the nations have structured against anyone who has tried to bully the close bond that they share. India and Russia have been successful in keeping the Western influence form their relationship at abeyance, with regular and timely visits by each others State Heads to each other’s countries. Both the countries have also valued the kind of close bond and understanding that they share in the field of energy security and reliable energy access, with Russia also giving out timely discounts to India, in light of emerging situations surrounding the energy insecurity rising in the world. This has been most recently noticed with context to the US sanctions since Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Kudunkulam Nuclear Power Plants have been built up with the aid and advice of the Russian side. The steady supply of energy resources for both the nations, from both the nations has also stabilised the world order in a much positive manner, as envisaged by both the nations. The collaboration on BrahMos and Su-30MKI has also upped the ante of the bond shared by both the nations. The connectivity on the basis of International North-South Transport Corridor, the Chennai Vladivostok Corridor, as well as the Rupee-Ruble Trade Mechanism, along with FTA negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Forum has also aided in facilitating the growth of India and Russia (Chopra, 2003). The GLONASS satellite cooperation is another feather in the Indian Russian hat of friendship.
Navigating the Complex Labyrinths of the Modern World: Way Forward for Strengthening Indo-Russian Praxis of Convergence
Today, the bond that India and Russia share with each other is much better than the relationship shared by India and Russia with any third country. Their points of convergence are much more than their points of divergence which makes discussions, consultations amongst other things much easier than anything else. India has been growing her bilateral relationships with America and the European Union, and while the same has benefited India in many ways, for sometime the same also strained India’s relationship with Russia. This however, has now been put at the back burner, and the strong Indo-Russian ties have again enlightened the world. However, this balance did not come easy for both the nations, and both had to strive very hard to achieve it. Add on to that, the other challenges that the Indo-Russian relationship faces such as the mismanagement of trade ties between both the nations, emerging financial and logistical challenges, difficult navigation amidst changing geopolitical scenario, lack of comprehensive connectivity between India’s vast mainland and Russia’s Far East area. India has though been trying to navigate these complex challenges, as well as emerging geopolitical uncertainty in Central Asia as well as current disruptions in the world order due to successive and continuous conflicts between Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, limited Indo-Pakistan warfare, instability in the South-East Asian subcontinent including countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, with extended tensions in Afghanistan, and the Middle Eastern nations.
However, to counter all these challenges, India and Russia have engaged bilaterally and multilaterally to overcome the upcoming challenges and revitalise their relationship (Chopra, 2003). The close bond that Russia and India share is too important to ignore. The quintessentiality of the close relationship between India and Russia is highlighted in their close defense and scientific-technological ties, green energy ties, the bond that they share in the backdrop of diversifying economic engagement, expanding cooperation on Arctic area development as well as exploration, managing trade ties amidst challenging world dynamics, establishment of centres advancing in fertiliser production, as well as fostering cyber security, tourism alliances, medical tourism, building academic research hubs, amongst others. These areas of cooperation have really enhanced the relationship that India shares with Russia, giving out a positive hope to interested parties on both sides for a sustained growth in the ties that India and Russia share amongst themselves. This also becomes important and equally inevitable in a world that is changing faster than the blink of one’s eye. This thus puts both Russia and India in a very profitable spot because both the nations, today, in a fast changing world are able to balance their ties with each other, and not just for each other but also with other vested parties of the world. This surely gives a renewed hope to all in the world and the same will also be reflected in the future ties of India and Russia as well. How well they are able to handle different kinds of situations that global world order creates, needs to be seen, but suffice to say, in today’s date and time, both India and Russia have far exceeded the expectations that were there in the nascent stages of their bilateral relationship.
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