The diplomatic language that is exchanged between India and Russia today is as glowing and warm as it was during the Soviet Union’s time. Moscow continues to be generally more willing to go an extra mile on behalf of India when it comes to bucking international restrictions or sanctions. It remains India’s most dependable veto provider at the United Nations Security Council. And it remains the country’s main source of weapons platforms and — following the completion of a formal civilian nuclear agreement — will be one of India’s main suppliers of nuclear material and technology.
However, it is exactly this remarkable continuity in relations that ensures bilateral ties stagnate. In the days when socialism reigned supreme in India, the nature of foreign relations could be determined through government fiat. In post-reform India, civil society has a big say in the width and depth of relations with a specific country. It is on these rocks that the Indo-Russian relationship is foundering. Compared to almost any other large country in the world, Russia is all but devoid of Indians coming to visit, study or work. More telling is that the Indian private corporate sector largely shuns Russia as a place to do business. Almost all Indian investments in Russia are done by state-owned enterprises and mostly in the energy sector.
So long as Indo-Russian relations lack this second leg they will be crippled — and perpetually in danger of falling over. While this can be attributed to circumstance rather than policy, the fact remains that Moscow has moved far more slowly from its socialist past than India has. Russia remains a hostile environment to private Indian investment and trade. Indian students prefer the varsities of the West. There is little or no attempt by Moscow to woo Indian society — if anything, it has ensured that Russian visas are always in short supply. The Russian leaders seems to believe that this is fine so long as they have the ear of their New Delhi counterparts. But as India continues to emerge as a global player, other countries will come bearing gifts. The Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement is just the most remarkable example of such geopolitical generosity. Others already match Russia in the defence field, will surpass it in the energy sector and may soon do so in the diplomatic world. Moscow needs to give thought about an Indian policy that does not depend only on contracts and nostalgia.
{{/usCountry}}So long as Indo-Russian relations lack this second leg they will be crippled — and perpetually in danger of falling over. While this can be attributed to circumstance rather than policy, the fact remains that Moscow has moved far more slowly from its socialist past than India has. Russia remains a hostile environment to private Indian investment and trade. Indian students prefer the varsities of the West. There is little or no attempt by Moscow to woo Indian society — if anything, it has ensured that Russian visas are always in short supply. The Russian leaders seems to believe that this is fine so long as they have the ear of their New Delhi counterparts. But as India continues to emerge as a global player, other countries will come bearing gifts. The Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement is just the most remarkable example of such geopolitical generosity. Others already match Russia in the defence field, will surpass it in the energy sector and may soon do so in the diplomatic world. Moscow needs to give thought about an Indian policy that does not depend only on contracts and nostalgia.
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