New Delhi’s discomfort with an assertive Russia in recent years demands a revisit of its relationship with Russia. Discuss. (200 words)
Refer – The Indian Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 7 years
KEY POINTS
Assertive Russia
· Russia’s annexation of Crimea
· Continuing intervention in eastern Ukraine
· Political meddling elsewhere on Russia’s periphery
· Military modernisation
· Robust nuclear doctrine
· A Penchant for coercive diplomacy
Towards India
· Russia’s tightening embrace of China
· In 2014, Russia broke its arms embargo on Pakistan and downgraded military technical cooperation with India from exclusive to preferred partner.
· It also conducted its first joint military exercise with Pakistan.
· Lacks of decisive actions against Taliban are generating unease for India.
Refreshing Ties
· Russia’s relative weight may have diminished, but it has a long tradition of great power diplomacy.
· It has military capabilities and the political will to use force that together can shape global and regional balances.
· As middle powers, there is much that Delhi and Moscow can do with each other.
· Realignment, dealignment and multi-alignment are the features of the contemporary world.
· For instance, on the one hand, India is trying to balance China by turning to America and Japan and on the other; Russia is trying to balance the West by aligning with China.
· India can’t expect a veto over Russia’s China policy, nor it can cede one to Moscow on India’s ties with the US.
· Thus, India, on its part, has to hold onto Russia while rapidly expanding its ties with the US.
· Meanwhile, in a world of changing distribution of power, Russia can’t reinvent a duopoly with America.
· At the same time its ambition towards making Russia a “swing state” in the global balance of power should be acknowledge by India.
· In the new circumstances, Delhi and Moscow must move towards a practical relationship that focuses on give and take wherever possible.
· The two sides must also carefully manage the inevitable differences that arise.
pradeep kumar BEHARA 7 years
plz review!!
IAS Parliament 7 years
