Putin's visit: Enhancing the Indo-Russian Ties

17 Jan, 2003    ·   949

KM Pari Velan highlights the many vital issues on which India and Russia found mutual concurrence during the Russian President’s visit


The recent visit of Russian President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, to India has enormous significance for both the countries in the global, regional and in the bilateral context. Putin was accompanied by a high level delegation consisting of the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and the ministers dealing with foreign affairs and science and technology among others. Many vital documents were signed to boost the strategic partnership between the two countries. During the visit, issues ranging from Iraq, Afghanistan, international terrorism, trade and economic relations and boosting the defence relations were discussed.

Several areas of mutual relevance and convergences of interest are noticed. In the global context, there was mutual understanding:

·         To promote a multi-polar world order;

·         To democratise the United Nations (UN) and it’s functioning;

·         To bring in more equitable economic relations in the globalisation context;

·         To cooperate in the containment of global terrorism;

Russia and India prefer multi-polar world order that would promote equal opportunities for all countries in global affairs; both have interest in the increased role of the UN and the expansion of the UN Security Council, where Russia has backed the Indian claim for a permanent seat; Russia needs India's support for its entry to World Trade Organization and equitable economic relations in the context of globalisation is an issue of further convergence.    

In the regional context, Russia is unambiguous on the issue of peace in the South Asian region. It wants Pakistan to safeguard its nuclear weapons and related installations. And, it supports India in joining the Shangai Cooperation Council (SCO), which would enable India to play an active role in Central Asia.

Moscow wants to promote peace in the South Asian region and has urged both India and Pakistan to restore talks. However, Pakistan has to tangibly demonstrate the cessation of support to cross-border terrorism to facilitate the process. The point about the important issue of safety and protection of nuclear weapons and related installations in Pakistan emanates from the concern of them falling into the hands of terrorists or rogue states. Russia believes that the stability in South Asia is related to stability in the Central Asian region as well.

In the bilateral context, continuity, trust and confidence continue to be the hallmark of relations between the two. The countries resolved to

·         Boost the trade and economic relations;

·         Enhance cooperation in the fields of Energy, Science and Technology;

·         Work together on telecommunications;

·         Harmonize on intellectual property rights;

·         Cooperate in civilian nuclear energy field;

·         Strengthen the defence ties and fructify weapon deals; and

·         Cooperate in combating the menace of terrorism.

The signing of the Delhi Declaration would lend further weight to the strategic partnership put in place during Putin's visit to New Delhi in October 2000.

To enhance defence cooperation, the Russian Industry Minister Illya Klebanov held a crucial meeting with Defence Minister George Fernandes a day ahead of the summit in order to give final touches to the Delhi Declaration on military to military cooperation. It was revealed that deal for the acquisition of Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and T-22 bomber is on the anvil. A joint development of a fifth generation futuristic fighter as well as developing a 50-seater passenger-cum-transport aircraft to replace IAF's ageing AN-32 fleet is in the pipe line.

The joint-venture of anti-ship supersonic cruise missile Brahmos is another milestone in defence cooperation. According to Moscow based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), India has a clear edge over China in getting advanced military technologies from Russia. The Russian strategists obviously do not foresee any conflict of interest between Russia and India in the years to come.

The revival of the Primokov proposal by Putin on the “Strategic Triangleâ€Â

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