Date: 08/10/2022

Relevance: GS-2: India and its neighborhood- relations; bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Key Phrases: United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Russia-India-China (RIC), India-Russia relations, QUAD, Impact of Russia-Ukraine war on India

Context

• Recently, India abstained from voting at the United Nations Security Council on a draft resolution against Russia for conducting referendums and annexing four regions of Ukraine.

Background

• India has maintained a balanced approach and hasn't condemned Russia despite the western pressure.
• India has continued to carry on oil and defense trade with Russia even after the Western sanctions against Russia.
• At the same time it remains committed to deepening its relations with the West, including the U.S.

Securing India’s interests among the Russia-China bonhomie

• The Ukraine war is the culmination of the proximity of Russia-China that has been going on since the end of the Cold War.
  • Linkages between China and Russia were upgraded following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 when Russia came under western pressure.
• It is a result of a combination of factors such as
  • Russia’s export of defense equipment and of energy.
  • The two countries’ understanding of a multi-polar world.
  • The rise of American paranoia about, and phobia towards, China..
• Russia’s attitude in working with China in certain sensitive sectors changed such as
  • The supply of sophisticated defense systems (S-400 or Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft), or in accommodating the Belt and Road Initiative etc.
• China who has professed to take a position of neutrality has been supportive of Russian action in many ways and accepted Russian narratives of NATO expansion and the USA being the culprit among others.
• The Chinese have been supportive of Russia in many ways which has led to greater Russian dependence on China and has implications for us.

Role of QUAD in bringing Russia and China closer

• India has invested in the Quad, but the Quad is not a military alliance and focuses on technology, trade, maritime security.
• India has been careful to make sure that it’s not part of any military alliance with Russia, China or the U.S.
• Russia has understood that India will engage with other countries of the West and both Russia and China are looking to the Global South, of which India is important.
• China seems to be recognizing that India is capable of being neutral and China can afford to alienate India any longer, given the kind of polarization in world politics.
• China would like to drive a wedge between India and the U.S but it’s not willing to accommodate in any substantive manner fundamental concerns along the India-China border.

India maintains a mixed position

• India is going ahead with all the multilateral arrangements that it has with China and Russia, such as BRICS and the SCO.
  • At the same time also going ahead with the G20, Quad, etc.
• India has differentiated between its bilateral and multilateral engagements with China and made it clear that there is no restoration of normal relations until peace and tranquility in border areas is achieved.
• We don’t see China showing any desire to return to the status quo ante still we have maintained diplomatic relations.

Who is more beneficial for India?--BRICS-SCO or G20

• Evaluation of bilateral engagements and multilateral engagements is not an easy task.
• The SCO and BRICS are regional organizations focusing on energy trade, linkages, etc.
• BRICS came about because major multilateral organizations like the WTO [World Trade Organization] and the IMF [International Monetary Fund] have not given the desirable space to emerging countries or to the Global South.
• India has tried consistently to not make any platform either for or anti-West.
  • India always operates and even becomes a bridge between these formations.

Russia-Ukraine war and growing Indian impatience

• There is a discomfort with both Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the fallout of Russian actions, which have hurt India’s interests in many ways.
  • For instance, the economic fallout, high fuel prices, difficulties in accessing fertilizers and disruptions of global supply chains.
• There are practical aspects like the procurement of arms and spare parts from Russia for the Indian armed forces.
• As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there have been changes in the geopolitical situation which are not very favourable for India; such as the closer alignment between China and Russia.
• Russia provides larger amounts of energy at discounted rates and India would be happy to help if there could be a negotiated solution.

What lies ahead for Russia, China and India?

• There will be no Russia-India-China kind of trilateral and Russia can still put pressure regarding the border issue on behalf of India the way it did in the past.
• There is nothing wrong in pursuing the interests of a country in foreign policy and we have to keep putting pressure to resolve the border issues.
• Russia is an important player in international affairs and it has become a vassal state of China, is a little exaggerated.
• At the same time due to many circumstances including pressure from the West, Russia’s role in Europe is no longer acceptable to the U.S. and European countries.
• Russia will become increasingly dependent on China in practical ways — for instance, as Europe continues to reduce its dependency on oil and gas supplies from Russia

Conclusion:

• Since its independence India has witnessed a reliable partner in Russia vis-a-vis others and Russia has extended its support for India on many occasions over the years from UNSC resolutions to 1971 war.
• Russia has been one of the largest arms exporters to India and will remain a key defense partner for India for decades to come.
• Russia and China are currently in a quasi-alliance setup but Russia repeatedly reiterates that it does not see itself as anybody’s junior partner and wants India to act as a balancer.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. Russia has been a reliable partner to India since the signing of the “Treaty of peace and friendship”, In light of the statement, give account of various facets of India-Russia relations. How do you see India’s recent stands over Russia at the United Nations? Is India in a bind over its relations with Russia? (250 words).