Reaffirming ties with the Russians
On February 20, the External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar, had a meeting with his Russian counterpart to reaffirm defence and trade cooperation between India and Russia. During the meeting, he spoke about how the trend of Western countries preferentially supplying arms to Pakistan over India has changed in the past decade. He mentioned that in terms of inventory, India’s new purchases have diversified with the U.S.A., Russia, France, and Israel as the main suppliers. This is a significant shift from the past, when many Western countries had preferred to supply Pakistan and not India. The External Affairs Minister’s statement highlights India’s efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities and its partnerships with multiple countries to achieve this goal.
“The economic model that the world has created is both unstable and unfair. In the name of globalization, many countries have seen over-concentration in production, resulting in economies being hollowed out. This has left many countries dependent on others for basic necessities, which becomes apparent during times of disruption such as the COVID pandemic, climate issues or current problems in the Red Sea.
The problem is so profound that it cannot be solved by just doing a few things. The global order is facing various kinds of stress due to events such as the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza, NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, and frequent disruptive climate events. Our challenge is not only to strengthen the current international order but also to change it. We need to consider who shapes it and on what basis. The international order must continue to evolve.”
Difference of views
In the context of India’s improved relations with Russia, Mr. Jaishankar stated that India does not expect Europe to adopt a New Delhi-centric position on China. Additionally, Europe should understand that India cannot follow the European view on Russia. He emphasized that there are inherent differences in relationships, and both sides need to accept them.
Mr. Jaishankar also talked about the challenges that India faces in managing its energy supplies after the Russia-Ukraine war. Although both Russia and Europe have expressed their positions clearly, there are still differences. Europe, for instance, shifted a significant portion of its energy procurement to the Middle East after the conflict in Ukraine began, which previously supplied India and other countries. When asked if Europe’s differences with Russia affect India-Europe relations, Mr. Jaishankar mentioned the energy issue, questioning what India should have done in such a scenario.
On Russia Ukraine
The Minister emphasized the need for mediation talks with Russia and Ukraine to put an end to the war in the region. He mentioned that India is willing to help, but won’t take the initiative on its own. He added that India has already provided assistance in specific matters, such as supporting Turkey’s negotiation for the corridor through the Black Sea and supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency’s inspections of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. He also said that India is always ready to help whenever approached, but it doesn’t believe in initiating anything on its own in this matter.
India-Russia Alliance
India and Russia have a long-standing strategic partnership based on shared interests and historical ties. The foundation of this relationship is built on extensive defense cooperation, with Russia being a major supplier of military equipment to India. Both nations also engage in joint military exercises, co-development of advanced military platforms, and technology transfers.
In recent years, energy collaboration has become another strong pillar of bilateral ties. India’s largest nuclear power plant, Kudankulam, is being built in Tamil Nadu with technical assistance provided by Moscow. Russia’s expertise in nuclear technology has been instrumental in advancing India’s capabilities, and the two countries have pledged to deepen their nuclear cooperation to enhance their energy security and technological advancement.
Over the past year and a half, India has become one of the largest importers of Russian oil. New Delhi has had to defend this move on several occasions from accusations by Western media and some political leaders of funding “Russia’s war” with Ukraine.
