In its pursuit of maintaining strategic autonomy, India now faces the delicate task of harmonising its partnership with Russia without impeding its relations with the West.
Authors
Abhinav Mehrotra, Assistant Professor, Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Amit Upadhyay, Associate Professor, Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Summary
A recent statement by Russian Trade Representative Alexander Rybas, on the 70th anniversary of commercial ties between Russia and India, highlighted the need for increasing bilateral trade, which in the changing geopolitical framework assumes significance with the rise of China, US’s indeterminate Indo-Pacific policy, and a multi-polar Asian paradigm. In his statement, the trade representative highlighted that the withdrawal of Western countries from Russia has opened opportunities for Indian pharmaceutical, energy, and food industries to expand their footprint in that country, which promises to further consolidate the trade relations between the two nations.
The core of the contemporary India-Russia relationship is based on the pillars of continuity, mutual trust, special bilateral trade, and economic relationships. Both countries believe in a multi-polar world, where multiple poles are important centres of economic and political power serving as independent actors that foster common regional interests, negotiated settlements, and the possibility of independent foreign policy.
Under this model, Russia has supported the Make in India initiative, and has been aiding India to increase local production to transit from an importing nation to becoming an exporting nation with enhanced capacity development. Several questions arise regarding the history of India-Russia trade relations, the recent steps taken to facilitate the relationship, and the possible way forward for India to retain its strategic autonomy.
Published in: ABP Live
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