The bilateral relations between India and Russia have been strong ever since the Cold War (1949-1991). The beginning of this Indo-Russian relationship was marked after the Soviet Union was dissolved. Ever since 1991, Russia and India have formulated a special relationship based on military, economic, and political agreements and partnerships. With the increasing trade between nations, and the strengthening of militaries, Indo-Russian relations have formulated an intergovernmental commission to ensure smooth communication between the nations. India and Russia have shared a long history. This serves as a major landmark in the political books of both nations.

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Historical Ties

1. The 1917 Russian Revolution provided great inspiration to the rules of the extremist section at the time of the freedom struggle. This section belongs to the Indian National Congress, along with several revolutionaries.
2. The Indian Nationalist movement received full support from Vladimir Lenin. In 1904, Russia won the Russo-Japanese war, providing great inspiration.
3. The USSR contains a 5-year economic plan formulated by India as well.
4. The treaty of friendship, peace, and cooperation was also signed in 1971 to build Indo-Russian relations. This treaty lasted for 20 long years.
5. After the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, Indo-Russian relations have changed.
6. In 2000, India and Russia signed a strategic partnership. It was developed in 2010 as the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

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Pillars of Cooperation

The pillars of the Corporation further denote the sectored Indo-Russian Relations:

• Economic Corporation

1. 1. The economic relations between both nations are good.
   2. Both countries set a US $30 billion investment goal expected to reach by 2025. However, the target was met in 2018.
   3. Both these nations will execute the goal of an additional US$ 50 billion mutual investment.
   4. India had also extended its support in 2019 for the development of East Russia. It pledged concessional loans worth USD 1 billion.

• Political Relations

1. After the Soviet Union collapsed, there was a strategic partnership in 2000. It was one of the first major political initiatives in nature after the collapse.
2. Every year a meeting is organised between the political leaders of the countries. This meeting holds a strategic relationship in political terms.
3. These countries show exemplary collaboration on issues of shared national interest.
4. In the matters of the United Nations Security Council’s permanent seat, Russia also backed up India in that matter.
5. The high-level levels of exchange that further include the IGC perform the selling and buying for IRIGC-TEC and the international north-south transport corridor.
6. IRC – It is India’s largest governmental mechanism and branches into two sections: The first covers trade, economy, science, technology, and cultural cooperation. The chairs are the External Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. The second covers military-technical cooperation, which defence ministers of both nations chair.
7. The political relations are strained due to India’s stance of anti-China. (2021).

• Strategic and Military Corporations

For decades, the defence equipment of India was a supply to the Soviet Union

1. To expand the technical-military cooperation, a ten-year agreement was also signed in 1997 by India and Russia. This included the acquisition of weaponry and marketing of military technologies.
2. The deal that happened between India and Russia in 1998 also led to the delivery in India of a huge range of defence equipment.
3. The nations also negotiated agreements for the construction of diverse machines. This led to Make in India’s defence manufacturing enterprise’s strengthening (2017).
4. Currently, both nations engage in weapons trading, including joint research, leasing, and training. All these are further maintained with high security and regularity.

The Joint centres of Projects are:

1. Four states of art missile stealth frigates
2. ILYUSHIN-HAL transport aircraft
3. Brahmos cruise missile program
4. Fifth-generation fighter jet
5. KAMOV-226T light utility helicopters
6. INS Vikramaditya Aircraft carrier

Apart from these, India has also bought several military products that include the following:

1. S-400 Triumf Air Defence system
2. T-90 Bhishma tanks program
3. The Faktor airbase in Tajikistan
4. In 2019, Russia and India also signed a $ 3 billion deal. It covered the lease of an attack submarine that is class nuclear-powered named Akula.
5. US$ 900 million up-gradation of MIG-29.

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• Energy or Nuclear Relations

1. ONGC VIDESH and Rosnet are already sharing a bond of Sakhalin 3 and 4 gas fields and the Russian fields. Also, for the past few months, India has been investing over $5 billion in the Russian sector.
2. In 2019, Narendra Modi visited Russia for the bond signing of the Roadmap for Cooperation in Hydrocarbons for the period 2019- 2024.
3. To further strengthen nuclear ties, 16-18 new reactors will be built by 2030. Each reactor will cost $2.5 billion, making the net worth of the whole deal USD 45 billion
4. A joint Rooppur Nuclear Power plant is set up in Bangladesh.

• Cultural Cooperation

1. There is a very strong cultural cooperation in Indo-Russian relations.
2. Many institutions across Russia teach Hindi to their students. Many Russian experts know various Indian languages like Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, etc.
3. Several small-scale cultural events have been organised in Russia since 2008. These events continue to strengthen the bonds between both nations.

Conclusion

It is believed that the relationship between these two nations will persist in sharing a good bond of harmony, welfare, and beneficiary. These pillars have continued to stand strong despite the straining times. This allows for a strong positive belief in Indo-Russia relations.

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