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OPINION February 05, 2021 | The Indian Eye 16

india, russia and the indo-pacific:

a search for Congruence

India and Russia’s divergent outlooks appear to stem from the latter’s rejection of

the Indo-Pacific construct in favour of Asia-Pacific

raJOrshi rOy to isolate it but also broaden the
horizons of its pivot to Asia be-
ussian Foreign Minister yond China.
Sergei Lavrov’s recent However, it is likely that In-
Runcharacteristic state- dia will continue its indepen-
ment of “India being an object dent course of action anchored
of the Western countries per- in multi-alignment. Russia re-
sistent, aggressive and devious mains India’s traditional partner
policy” to “engage in anti-China and a pillar of India’s strategic
games by promoting Indo-Pacif- autonomy. The challenge will
ic strategies” has reignited the likely be to convince Russia of
debate on India and Russia’s India’s long-term independent
increasingly divergent outlook Indo-Pacific vision.
on the Indo-Pacific. Lavrov at It is, therefore, essential to
the 2020 Raisinia Dialogue had continue to strive for congru-
expressed confidence of India ence. What can possibly bridge
“being smart enough to under- the gap are both nations’ simi-
stand” the Western “trap” of external Affairs Minister Dr s Jaishankar with his russian counterpart lar but as yet parallel visions of
the Indo-Pacific and “not get sergei lavrov during a bilateral meeting in Moscow (file photo: ANI) a stable security architecture
into it”. and shared concerns over hege-
The tone, tenor and timing holds veto power. Indo-Pacific appears tactical- monism. As India’s External Af-
of Lavrov’s December 2020 Russia’s Indo-Pacific oppo- ly linked to its necessity of an fairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar
statement insinuates Russia’s sition is also based on its per- entente with China. With Bei- had stated in 2019, “Russia is a
apprehensions of a fundamen- ception that it undermines the jing’s support being critical to Pacific Power which has Indian
tal shift in India’s foreign poli- Association of Southeast Asian overcome Western pressure on Ocean interests” while “India
cy playbook which traditionally Nations (ASEAN) centrality, an its policies, the Kremlin as quid is an Indian Ocean power with
has placed a premium on stra- organisation with which Russia pro quo appears to increasingly very strong and growing Pacific
tegic autonomy, with Russia as has intensified its engagement.4 back China in its core areas of interest”.
one of its key pillars. Russia also holds that the con- strategic concern by doing the The litmus test of this tra-
These developments have struct is limited in its geograph- diplomatic heavy-lifting. ditional partnership will be to
the potential to cast a shadow ical scope as it excludes Africa The Indo-Pacific, on the harmonise each other’s view-
on India-Russia bilateral ties. and the Persian Gulf, regions other hand, can likely be one points, to the extent possible,
The pertinent question is wheth- where Russia has increased its of Russia’s tools to stay relevant and ride out the storm. Perhaps,
er New Delhi and Moscow can strategic footprints in recent on the global stage. Today, an a logistics sharing pact, long in
find common ground in the times. Seeing no tangible gains increasingly bipolar US-China the offing, could provide the
evolving geo-strategic construct. from this redefined construct, global narrative runs the risk of much-needed momentum.
India and Russia’s divergent Russia continues to emphasise leaving Russia in its trail, given Rajorshi Roy is Research Analyst
outlooks appear to stem from on the Asia-Pacific. Moscow’s relative decline. This at the Manohar Parrikar Institute
the latter’s rejection of the In- The Indo-Pacific stakehold- necessitates Russia adopting for Defence Studies and Analyses,
do-Pacific construct in favour of ers’ strategy appears predicated independent positions in one New Delhi.
Asia-Pacific. This is predicated on putting diplomatic pressure of the world’s most dynamic re-
on Kremlin’s assertion that the on Beijing to strengthen the gions to project the image of a Views expressed are of the author
Indo-Pacific is primarily a US- foundations of peaceful co-ex- pole in global affairs. and do not necessarily reflect the
led initiative designed to con- istence. The strategy, however, Being China’s junior part- views of the Manohar Parrikar
IDSA or of the Government of India.
tain China and Russia. may not necessarily be China ner undermines Kremlin’s great
Russia has viewed attempts specific. Moreover, majority of power ambitions. Russia, there- This is the abridged version of
to formulate a new rules-based stakeholders view expansion fore, likely stands to gain from the article which appeared first
Indo-Pacific order as a Western of the Indo-Pacific’s frontiers the multipolarity and multilater- in the Comment section of the
strategy to override internation- to the east-coast of Africa and alism that the Indo-Pacific seeks website (www.idsa.in) of Mano-
al law, thereby circumventing ASEAN centrality as intrinsic to to promote. A strategic reposi- har Parrikar Institute for Defense
the United Nations Security the construct. tioning could not only help Rus- Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
Council (UNSC) where Russia Russia’s vocal opposition of sia overcome Western attempts on February 4, 2021

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