Strategic Partnership

While the two largest democracies have come closer, either because of personal chemistry and commitment between US President and Indian PM or because of a compulsion for the most developed economy to depend on the most sought-after country for business and IT expansion, the case with Russia is only of a further strengthening of the solid bond. Russian President, Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit to India for three days signifies more or less the end of the unipolar political arrangement that came up following the end of the Cold War with the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

A visit by the Russian President was on the cards for quite some time but could not be implemented owing to the fluid internal political situation of Russia during Boris Yeltsin's regime. It goes to the credit of President Putin to have taken an initiative to visit India for a summit as soon as he took over. Traditionally, India and Russia have been allies and close friends through thick and thin. While India supported Russian military action against the rebels in Chechnya backed by Islamist separatist groups, Russia accepted New Delhi's nuclear power capability. During the Soviet era, India enjoyed Russia's support over the question of Kashmir in the Security Council. Unfortunately, during the Yeltsin period, military cooperation, trade and economic interaction between the two countries did not progress. Bilateral trade got reduced to $1.2 billion during 1999 and major defence deals stood where they were. Shri Putin has favoured the visit for more trade, for more foreign exchange.

The conventional Indian exports—tea, coffee, tobacco—is going to be diversified for more export to Russia. India's import interests are oil, gas, diamond, transport and energy and the Russians are serious on oil exploration in the Bay of Bengal and operations in the metallurgical fields. Moscow has proposed financing some projects out of the rupee account it holds here and yet not fully utilised. Other projects are on the anvil that need finance and infrastructural support. The internal economic position of Russia has only hastened the Summit talks. Shri Putin is following a Look East policy for trustworthy strategic partners with a view to having stable friendship in Asia to stop the trend towards a unipolar world led by the US. The role of Russia-China-India partnership has a vital bearing on the new world order.

Though China is not openly joining a strategic alliance of the three countries, it recognises that security of the Asia-Pacific region depends on a balance of forces among the main poles of power. Russia, China and India have a common stake in fighting international terrorism and religious fundamentalism. With Shri Putin, a stable democracy has taken roots in Russia. His first significant international move after becoming President was to ratify the extradition treaty with India aimed at counteringthe menace of terrorism. The Russian offer to help India and China in every way to resolve their differences on the border question will help create conditions for evolving interaction on regional security concerns. India's security interests concern Russian thinking, which is shown by Moscow's resistance to US hegemony. It is entering into a long-term defence relationship with India and supports New Delhi's move to a permanent seat in the UN's Security Council.

Signing a Declaration with India on Strategic Partenership is high on the agenda. Bilateral ties will move to a firm footing with initialling of more agreements between the two countries. Interactions to come will cover joint analysis of military, political situation in South and Central Asia (a new focus on Islamic fundamentalist threat) and consultations to mutual benefit on security and exchanging groups of experts in the political and military fields. The need to modernise the Indian Army has assumed significance in the wake of the Kargil conflict and Russia has been on the shopping list for supplying military ware to India. Agreements have been reached on co-production of aircraft, supersonic anti-ship missiles, T-90 tanks, submarines and SU-30 MKI fighters and these have to see the light of day. Such strategic partnership indeed will go a long way throwing up new equations of security balance, particularly in the region. Indian endeavour should be to tilt the equation to her advantage to the maximum extent possible.