New Delhi
11 March 2010
Vladimir Putin's arrival on the world stage in 2000 and his landmark visit to
India that year set the stage for what was to be a new and more dynamic phase in ties
between Moscow and New Delhi. He is widely acknowledged here as an old and very
special friend and the co-architect of the India-Russia strategic partnership.
A decade later, the two countries will look to consolidate their relationship when Mr Putin,
who is Russia's prime minister today, holds talks with Indian leaders here on Friday.
Although Mr Putin will be in town for a little over 21 hours, both sides are expected to ink
pacts ranging from defence to civil nuclear sectors worth over 10 billion dollars.
New Delhi will also aim to take forward the bilateral cooperation with Moscow in other
strategic sectors such as hydrocarbon and space, besides energising trade and
investment ties. Lack of dynamism in economic ties is a matter of concern for New Delhi;
without increased economic cooperation, bilateral ties will not have a sound foundation.
There are other concerns, too. A resurgent Russia is necessary for maintaining a desired
level of equilibrium at the global level but the space created by the weakening of Russia
-- by NATO's policy of containment -- is being filled by China. Compounding matters for
New Delhi is that the Russian strategic thinking about China is not quite clear.
Kanwal Sibal, a former foreign secretary, says India and Russia do not as yet have a
common view of China.
The situation in the region, particularly Afghanistan, is another area of concern.
According to Rajiv Sikri, a former secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, India and
Russia have strategic convergences relating to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. The
Indian side can be expected to explore the possibility of fashioning a common strategy
with Russia to prevent the return to power of the Taliban.
The difficulties notwithstanding, both Sibal and Sikri note that Russia can be a vital
partner for India to maintain its strategic autonomy. Defence is a key component in
maintaining strategic autonomy, and Russia's record in providing sophisticated arms
and platforms to India has been exceptional. Despite all the difficulties in bilateral
defence ties, Russia is still the only foreign military supplier from whom India is able to
procure hi-tech equipment unavailable from elsewhere, including nuclear powered
submarines and an aircraft carrier.
An agreement on the cost of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral
Gorshkov) at 2.35 billion dollars will be signed. A civil nuclear pact is also on the cards.
India can be expected to sound the Russians for access to nuclear reprocessing
technology.
// India and Russia are likely to sign or conclude negotiations on: //
- an umbrella inter-governmental civil nuclear pact
- supplementary agreements pertaining to costing and technical details of INS
Vikramaditya
- a simplified visa pact
- a 1.2 billion dollar deal for 29 MiG-29K maritime fighters
- joint development of the stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft
- joint pharmaceutical ventures
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