India-Russia relations

Why is in news? With PM Narendra Modi skipping Russia for the annual summit for the second year in a row, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday reached Moscow on a five-day visit to meet the Russian leadership. Shortly after his arrival, Jaishankar tweeted, “Arrived in Moscow. Look forward to my engagements.”

About:

Bilateral ties with Russia are a key pillar of India’s foreign policy.

India sees Russia as a longstanding and time-tested friend that has played a significant role in its economic development and security.

This longstanding and time-tested partnership is chiefly driven by shared interests of multilateralism, and global peace and prosperity.

It follows the principles of:

Mutual trust;

Respect for each other’s territorial integrity and core national interests, and

Alignment of interests on the most critical international and regional issues of war and peace.

Evolution of Ties:

The roots of India-Russia relationship can be traced back to the early 20th century, when India was under British rule and the Tsars ruled Russia.

The Russian Revolution of 1905 inspired Indian freedom fighters, and figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were greatly influenced by the ideas emanating from Russia at that time.

The official establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Soviet Union was announced even before India gained independence, on April 13, 1947.

The relationship between the two nations took on a truly strategic dimension during the Cold War era, with strong political, strategic, military, economic, and diplomatic ties.

However, India-Russia relations have faced challenges, particularly in the post-Covid scenario.

Issues related to Russia’s close ties with China and Pakistan have contributed to a strain in the relationship, leading to geopolitical complexities for India.