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OPINION DECEMBER 19, 2025 | The Indian Eye 11

the global order is the worst-case sce- often having diverging priorities is
nario for its major power ambitions. the new normal. This could at times
So, India’s membership of Russia lead to misgivings. The stakeholders
promoted BRICS and Shanghai Co- would have to come to terms with the
operation Organisation (SCO) add fact that the new normal will require
to their credibility as non-Western frequent adjustments and recalibra-
organisations. But strengthening tions including managing expecta-
convergence will require continued tions and perceptions.
meaningful engagement and robust Crucially, a major stumbling block
conversations. in broad-basing the India–Russia
Lastly, the size of India’s market
continues to hold appeal as it has the partnership is the overhang of West-
ern sanctions. India’s economic vision
potential to alleviate the impact of clashes with Western attempts to iso-
Western economic boycott of Russia.
late Russia. Private Indian business
DEFENCE may not find their Russia exposure
efence and security contin- worth the risk. This is already reflect-
ed in oil imports being on the wane.
ue to be an integral pillar of If Trump’s rhetoric indeed becomes a reality, it would be a death knell for
Nevertheless, mutual convergen-
Dthe India–Russia strategic the arms control architecture (File) ces far outweigh divergences. No-
partnership. This is notwithstanding tably, Russia appears to appreciate
India’s diversification of its weapons tion in the Information Fusion Cen- resource diplomacy involving rare India’s position on the Ukraine war
sources apart from an emphasis on tre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) earths for building resilient supply under the rubric of being sensitive to
indigenous production. The fact that centre based in Gurugram. A key chains, quantum computing, artifi- each other’s core concerns. Inciden-
several of India’s frontline platforms, charter of the IFC-IOR is to strength- cial intelligence (AI), commercial tally, a peace deal in Ukraine is likely
with a significantly long shelf-life, en maritime security, enhance mari- aviation, miniaturised civil nuclear to lead to Russia emerging stronger
continue to be of Russian origin im- time domain awareness and foster technology, ship-building, maritime on the international stage by virtue
ply strong Russian presence in India’s naval cooperation. training and scientific maritime ex- of a major reset in ties between the
defence and deterrence for the fore- ploration. Reports of a mobility Moscow and the West. This could
seeable future. The challenge is to ad- agreement for skilled and semi- present new opportunities for India
dress delays in delivery of both spare ECONOMIC skilled sectors in Russia would add a to engage all key stakeholders—US,
parts and new equipment amidst re- raditionally, the economic con- new economic dimension. Promoting Europe, Russia and even Ukraine.
quirements by Russia for its own war. tent has been the weak link in mutual investments including in the It is also hoped that these dynamics
Similarly, the question is whether the Tbilateral ties. India’s purchase untapped Russian Far East and the would lessen Russian dependence on
successful Brahmos model of joint of Russian hydrocarbons in the last Arctic would provide ballast to this China. As such, India has a stake in
development and production can be three years though had helped boost ship of bilateral economic ties. This lasting peace in Europe.
replicated elsewhere. Notably, Rus- trade to US$ 68 billion from the pre- would also provide a fillip to India’s
sia is still competitive in niche sectors viously stagnant US$ 10 billion. How- Act Far East policy, first launched by
including missile defence, hyperson- ever, this has fuelled a large trade Prime Minister Modi in 2019. CONCLUSION
ics and strategic nuclear technology. deficit with India’s exports hovering Notably, the binding glue in any n closing, this is a unique rela-
The war has also compelled it to de- around US$ 5 billion. Energy trade partnership is the people-to-peo- tionship which has served both
velop new cutting-edge equipment, may also come down in response to ple interaction. Promoting tourism, Icountries well. The cost of drift,
highlighting that Russia continues to geopolitical pressures. As such, a new youth, academic and media exchang- however, could have implications
retain the capability to reinvent itself. trade and technological model needs es would help accurately project each for each other’s strategic autonomy
Sharing of costs and technology apart to be pursued to unlock the economic other in their respective national as well as balance of power in their
from lessons from the Ukraine war potential. consciousness. Skill and cultural ori- neighbourhood. So, beyond optics
would appear to be mutually bene- This necessitates addressing entation for labour mobility would and pageantry, the litmus test of Pu-
ficial. Public statements from Russia certain structural issues. It includes also help in assimilating the potential tin’s visit would lie in the emergence
committing to India’s Atmanirbharta greater market access for Indian Indian workforce into the vastly dif- of a truly enduring and comprehen-
initiative could be further explored. products, streamlining payments in ferent cultural milieu of Russia. sive partnership beyond the tradition-
Meanwhile, third party collab- national currencies, achieving greater al bellwethers of defence and energy.
oration holds promise. The sale of banking integration, tapping the po-
Brahmos missiles to the Philippines tential of private businesses instead CHALLENGES Dr. Rajorshi Roy is Associate Fellow
seems to have evinced interest from of relying on the traditional govern- nsulating this bilateral partner- at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for
others. Similarly, the decision of the ment-to-government (G2G) interac- ship from engagement with other Defence Studies and Analyses. His
2024 annual India–Russia summit to tions and fine-tuning connectivity and Istrategic partners remains a key areas of research and analysis cover the
manufacture spare parts in India for infrastructure bottlenecks. Here, the challenge. This is aptly reflected in foreign, defence, security and domestic
countries using Russian equipment role of the International North–South the pressure on India from its West- policies of Russia and the Central Asian
has added a new dimension to the de- Transport Corridor (INSTC) as well ern partners to boycott Russia. Sim- countries
fence partnership. as the Chennai Vladivostok Maritime ilarly, Moscow has had to fend off Views expressed are of the author and
In the same vein, the recent rat- Corridor (CVMC) which connect the Beijing’s demand to dilute its military
do not necessarily reflect the views of
ification of the Reciprocal Exchange European and Asian parts of Russia collaboration with New Delhi partic- the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
of Logistic Support (RELOS) agree- respectively are vital. Similarly, final- ularly post the Galwan crisis. Mean- Government of India
ment by the Russian parliament is ising a free trade agreement with the while, India and Russia’s positions
expected to boost military-to-military Eurasian Economic Union is expect- may not always align in multilateral This this article first appeared in the
cooperation. Perhaps, this is an op- ed to accelerate economic synergies. fora like the BRICS and SCO, which Comments section of the website (www.
portune moment to propose a white In parallel, new areas of collab- involve taking non-Western versus idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
shipping agreement with Russia. This oration which hold significant prom- anti-Western stances. for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
could even enable Russian participa- ise should be explored. This includes The reality of India and Russia Delhi, on December 5, 2025

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