Question

Explain the correlation between the following:

India and Russia

Answer 1

1. Relationship with the Soviet Union was perhaps the most enduring relationship of India during the Cold War period. Soviet Union provided aid in the form of technology and low-interest credit to India’s heavy industry projects in the public sector. It also provided major weapons to the Indian defence forces and made agreements for licensed-production of some of these weapons in India. Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of 1971 was an important milestone in the bilateral relations.
2. During the first few years after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, relations between India and the new state of Russia were not good. They began to improve in the late 1990s. Russia made agreements for a joint venture to produce Sukhoi fighter aircraft and Brahmos missiles.
3. It also agreed to provide reactors for India’s Kudankulam nuclear power plant. Russia sold its aircraft carrier “Admiral Gorshkov” to India, which is now known as “INS Vikramaditya”. Transfer of Russian weapons systems to India continues to be the main foundation of bilateral relations. Besides, both countries have major stakes in Russian oil fields such Sakhalin - 1 highlighting importance of energy security.