Discuss the reasons behind the consistent stability in India-Russia relations, even as relationships among other major countries have experienced significant fluctuations. (10M, 150 words) [GS-2: International Relations]

Introduction:

• Russia has been a long-standing and reliable partner for India. The evolution of India-Russia relations has been a critical component of India’s foreign policy.
• India-Russia relations have taken on a profoundly new character, with increased cooperation in practically every area, including politics, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people contacts.

Body:

• Stable Diplomatic Relations: During External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow, he highlighted the unusually stable Indo-Russian relationship, even amidst fluctuations in ties with other major nations.
• Historical Alignment: Since the mid-20th century, India and Russia have had no substantial bilateral disagreements, with their geopolitical interests often aligning to maintain a stable balance of power in Asia.
• Economic Cooperation: The absence of annual summits does not imply a deterioration in the relationship. Bilateral commercial and economic cooperation has notably increased over the last two years.
• Evolving Economic Context: The context of the bilateral relationship with Russia has fundamentally changed. For example, India’s GDP in 1991 was half that of Russia’s — $270 million to $518 million. Today, India’s economy is significantly larger than Russia’s — $3.6 trillion compared to $2.2 trillion.
• Strategic Dialogues: In December 2021, a new dimension was added to bilateral cooperation with the first 2+2 Dialogue (Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries) taking place alongside Summit-level talks.
• Multilateral Engagements: India and Russia cooperate closely on various multilateral platforms such as the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO. India’s Presidency of the G20 and SCO in 2023 provided opportunities for officials and ministers of both countries to engage on the sidelines of various events in India.

Conclusion:

The sustained stability and strategic depth of India-Russia relations underscore their importance in India’s foreign policy framework. Both countries continue to benefit from robust cooperation across multiple sectors, reinforcing their roles as key allies on the global stage.