Round The World
New Delhi , 9 December 2014
Putin’s
Visit
STRATEGIC
ELEVATION OF TIES?
By Ashok B
Sharma
India and Russia are
natural allies, despite whatever is happening across the globe. Though not
being an immediate neighbour, Russia
is an indispensable and time tested friend. The erstwhile Soviet Union was
sympathetic towards India's
struggle for independence. After Independence
right from the Nehru era till today, the friendship between India and Russia passed through several
trials. In the days of the cold war, when India
opted for the non-aligned movement (NAM), the friendship between the
two countries did not enter a bitter phase. Contrary there were pressure
tactics from the Western bloc on India on various issues.
The most significant example of the
erstwhile Soviet Union extending support to India
in the time of need was in 1971 war with Pakistan
that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Its support was crucial at that time. The US
had sent its Seventh Fleet to the Indian Ocean and China
was preparing to intervene -- both were trying to counter India's move in liberating Bangladesh. The
erstwhile Soviet Union deployed its forces at its borders to caution Beijing. Further it
supported India's
position both at the United Nations and UN Security Council.
Even after, the end of cold war and
collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia
continues to be India’s
important ally. In today’s era of multi-polarity in geopolitics, the two cannot
choose any other as better friends. Both the countries have their natural compulsions
in the contemporary situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly
mentioned in a recent meeting that every child in India
knows that our closest friend is Russia. President Vladimir Putin’s
visit must only reconfirm it.
Some people in this country are much
perturbed over Russia
entering into a military pact with our neighbour-adversary, Pakistan for
the first time to exchange of views and information on politico-military issues
as well as issues related to strengthening of mutual trust and international
security. Russia had been a
long-time supplier of defence platforms to India. Even today 60 per cent to 70
per cent of our defence platforms are from Russia. It is the first country to
come for co-production and co-development of defence products with India.
After the collapse of the Soviet
Union, Russia may have lost
some of its defence capability to its erstwhile Soviet members, but still the
technology it has in its possession is quite needed for India. Whose
technology is superior or more updated and sophisticated - whether the US or Russia - is not the moot issue. No
country will be prepared to part with its recent technology. What matters is
the trust and confidence and overall friendship in the time of need.
Today, the US has replaced Russia
as the top supplier of defence products to India. It has also promised
co-production and co-development with New Delhi
and has assured to implement Modi government’s ‘Make in India’
ambitious programme. It is the right of India to have a choice of
technologies in building up its defence preparedness.
Similarly, it is the case with Pakistan when it seeks to ink a defence pact
with Russia.
Here at this point, Russia
needs to answer the critics of India-Russia friendship that its relationship
with Islamabad would not come in the way of its
long lasting and trusted friendship with New
Delhi.
Russia today is a pariah after
annexing Crimea. Western powers have accused
it of continuing to support the separatist rebels in the eastern Ukraine and have also alleged Russia's
involvement in shooting down of the Malaysian airliner MH 17 killing 298 people
on board while flying over the rebel-held area. President Putin had to face
uncomfortable situation from leaders of the US, Canada, Japan and UK at the
recent G20 Summit in Brisbane and as a result he had to leave before the G20
Leaders’ Communique was released and US President Obama and European leaders
opened their talks on Ukraine.
It is now the right time for New Delhi to reciprocate its friendship with Russia. India stands to gain strategically in this
situation in many ways by deepening its relations with Russia and is
therefore, right in saying categorically that it cannot be party to any
sanctions against its friend. India
is Russia's partner in
BRICS, RIC, G20 and other global fora and Russia
supports India’s
candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and
membership of SCO.
But it is unfortunate that Prime
Minister Modi could not give much time to President Vladimir Putin at the
margins of BRICS Summit at Fortaleza
as he devoted most of his spare time discussing with the Chinese President Xi
Jinping. He, however, met the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the
sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, but had no structured meeting
with Putin at the sidelines of G20 Summit.
India and Russia, being strategic partners, have
multi-layered mechanism for bilateral interaction, one of the largest with any
country in the world, that meets at Summit
level annually, since 2000. The other key institutional mechanisms are
Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation, co-chaired by
two defence ministers, Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic,
Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation co-chaired by Indian
external affairs minister and Russian deputy prime minister, India-Russia Trade
& Investment Forum co-chaired by Indian commerce minister and Russian
economic development minister. Both India
and Russia
are determined to take this relationship to qualitatively new levels with a
joint vision for the next decade.
Apart from several ongoing defence
cooperation deals, the first stage of co-designing of the 5th generation
fighter aircraft is completed. India
and Russia are engaged in
cooperation in space technology and India is interested in use of
Russian receivers for satellite signals. On energy cooperation, Kudankulam
nuclear power project stands out as the best example. India is interested in supply of gas through
pipeline from Russia and
acquiring more hydrocarbon projects in Russia.
Further, as Eurasian Free Trade Area
is likely to take shape, New Delhi
is interested in boosting the bilateral trade to beyond the existing $10
billion. It is also pressing for a North-South Transport Corridor via Iran. On the
trade side, India benefits
much from the import of rough diamonds from Russia and processing it for
exports. India
would stand to benefit from further agreements on defence, nuclear energy,
customs, banking and energy cooperation. It awaits a new strategic elevation.
--- INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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