Debasis Dash asked: How Russia views the developing Indo-US relationship?

Amit Kumar replies: The Indo-US relationship is evolving; whereas the Indo-Russian ties have long matured. In fact, there can be very few better examples of such symmetric relationship in the international arena as the India-Russia ties. The relationship is based on the twin pillars of trust and mutual interdependence. However, the same cannot be said about the Indo-US relationship, where trust deficit is quite evident and the asymmetric nature of the relationship is also striking. It was in recognition of this very fact that recently, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit held in July 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked, “Even a child in India if asked to say who is India’s best friend will reply it is Russia because Russia has been with India in times of crisis.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin too has been equally vocal about Russia’s ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ with India. Addressing the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee in his Christmas and New Year message sent to the foreign heads of state in December 2013, President Putin had noted that “in the outgoing year relations between Russia and India developed at a rapid pace; major joint projects were implemented in military technology, trade and economy, energy, culture and other areas.” It was further stated that, “The President of Russia expressed confidence that in 2014 the Russian-Indian privileged strategic partnership based on age-long traditions of friendship and mutual respect will be enhanced and filled with new meaning.” It is noteworthy here that while he had sent messages both to the president and the prime minister of India, in case of China it was only the Chinese President Xi Jinping who was addressed. Significantly, he chose to ignore Pakistan altogether.

Despite this bonhomie at the apex level, often Russians feel that India has neglected its friendship with their country due to its engagement with new friends, particularly the US. India’s increased defence engagement with the US which has also seen frequent joint military exercises, and emergence of the US as the largest supplier of weapon systems to India in the last three years, has left Russia wondering about India’s intentions. Russian concerns were publicly conveyed for the first time during the Aero India show at Bangalore in February 2013. Viktor Komardin, head of the Russian government-owned Rosoboronexport delegation, had said: “Russia has virtually created the Indian defence industry but little attention was being given to the contribution of Russia in building India’s capabilities. We are partners, deal with us like partners. Don’t be carried away by chocolates or sweets.” He blamed politics in India for the US-made platforms - transport aircraft and helicopters - getting preference over the Russian equipment. The Russians are particularly perturbed about the role of the Indian diaspora community in building closer ties between India and the US. Moreover, the Russians feel that the US has been successful in cultivating the Indian bureaucracy which serves as the US conduit. Interestingly though, Russia too has been trying to redefining its ties with the West and works in close cooperation with Washington on many issues.

India, however, has tried to allay Russian apprehensions on several occasions. Last year, former Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, during his visit to Moscow on October 03, 2013, had stated, “There is no reason to think that this time-tested historic relationship, which we consider valuable, may be undermined by anything.” Russia is aware of the high degree of convergence between the two countries on a wide range of issues, like the UNSC reform, terrorism, Syria, Iran, Ukraine, Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, which is not the case with the US in either country’s case. Most importantly, Russia supports the India position on the Kashmir issue and also respects India’s independent stance in the conduct of its foreign policy.

Russia is confident that defence cooperation with India in the short-run may have suffered, but greater strategic congruence between the two countries in the long-run will prevail. Though the relationship of both India and Russia with other major players like the US, China, EU and Japan, etc., has a bearing on their own bilateral relations, special ties between the two nations continue to grow, keeping pace with contemporary global realities.

Posted on September 25, 2014