India-Russia Relations Through the Ages

Abstract

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech said when Indian kids are asked to mention the most valuable friend of India, they without any hesitation say it is Russia. From the very beginning of our foreign relations, we have Russia who stood beside us through thick and thin. Russia is an all-weather friend of India. Enunciation of the policy of non-alignment by India received accolades from the Soviet Union but ruffled the feather of America. After independence when India had a tussle with Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir only the Soviet Union had extended much required political support to India. During the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war and in particular, the 1971 war with Pakistan Indian sovereignty was threatened by America and Pakistan. Pakistan being a member of the US-led NATO alliance immediately sought help from America in the wake of an outbreak of war with India. Being a soft power, it was beyond India’s military capability to rebuff the possibility of joint aggression by Pakistan and the USA. Considering this, India concluded Peace, Friendship, and Co-operation Treaty with the Soviet Union in 1971. This treaty proved to be a boon for India when the Indo-Pak war broke out and America and China the two most powerful countries backed aggressor Pakistan. The decision of the Soviet Union to move its fleet to the Indian Ocean area was considered an effective deterrent to the decision of the US to deploy its Seven Fleet from the Gulf of Tonkin to the Bay of Bengal during the Indo-Pak war. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, India’s growing friendship with America created rifts in the Indo-Russia relationship. Shifts from a socialist planned economy to liberalisation and opening of the Indian market to the outside world and foreign private investment in the Indian market and deepening cooperation with America have led to a tumultuous relationship between two old friends. Dilapidated relations somehow improved when India decided to release the five pilots of Russian origin sentenced to life for their involvement in the Purulia arms drop case. Russia extends its support to India for its claim of permanent membership in the Security Council of UNO. Presently Russia is the second-highest defence supplier to India. In the pandemic situation of covid 19, Russian President Putin visited India ignoring his health concern and promised to give medical aid in India’s effort to fight covid 19.