International Relations Current Affairs UPSC Exam 2022 Lecture 2

Table of Contents

INDIA AND RUSSIA

Recently India and Russia celebrated the 75^th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. This has come amid Russia-Ukraine war.

What are the Different Aspects of Indo-Russia Relations?

Historical Background:

The India and Russia ties have been a longstanding relation. Since the signing of the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000, India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, and culture.
During the Cold War, India and the Soviet Union had a strong strategic, military, economic and diplomatic relationship.

After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia inherited its close relationship with India which resulted in both nations sharing a Special Strategic Relation.
However, the relations have taken a steep downfall over the past few years, especially in the post-Covid scenario. One of the biggest causes for this is Russia’s close relations with China and Pakistan, which have caused many geopolitical issues in the past few years for India.

Political Relations:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin held their first informal Summit in the city of Sochi in the Russian Federation in 2018.
In 2019, President Putin signed the Executive Order on awarding PM Narendra Modi Russia’s highest state decoration – The order of St Andrew the Apostle.
Two Inter-Governmental Commissions – one on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), and another on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC- MTC), meet annually.

Trade Relations:

The two countries intend to increase bilateral investment to US$50 billion and bilateral trade to US$30 billion by 2025.
Bilateral trade during FY 2020 amounted USD 8.1 billion.
From 2013 to 2016 there was a major decline in the trade percentage between the two countries.
However, it increased from 2017 onwards and a constant increase was noticed in 2018 and 2019 as well.

Defence and Security Relations:

India-Russia military-technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems
Both countries regularly conduct the Tri-Services exercise ‘INDRA‘.
The joint military programmes between India and Russia include:
- BrahMos cruise missile programme
- 5^th generation fighter jet programme
- Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme
- KA-226T twin-engine utility helicopters
- some frigates
The military hardware purchased/leased by India from Russia includes:
- S-400 Triumf
- Kamov Ka-226 200 to be made in India under the Make in India initiative
- T-90S Bhishma
- INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier programme

Nuclear Relations:

- Russia is an important partner for India in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy.
- It recognizes India as a country with advanced nuclear technology with an impeccable non-proliferation record.
- Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India .
- Both India and Russia are implementing Rooppur Nuclear Power Project in Bangladesh

Space Exploration:

- Both sides cooperate in the peaceful uses of outer space, including satellite launches, GLONASS navigation system, remote sensing and other societal applications of outer space.
- An MoU ISRO and ROSCOSMOS on Joint Activities in the field of Human Spaceflight Programme was signed during the 19^th Bilateral Summit.

Importance of Russia for India?

Balancing China
Emerging New Sectors of Economic Engagement
Combating Terrorism
Support At Multilateral Forums
Russia’s Military Exports

INDIA AND USA

India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a “global strategic partnership”, based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.
Historically, the U.S. made an ambivalent approach to the growth of India’s power.

POLITICAL RELATIONS

The frequency of high-level visits and exchanges between India and the U.S. has gone up significantly of late.
The recent visit of PM Modi and outgoing US President Donald Trump in the events of “Howdy Modi” and “Namaste Trump” respectively highlighted India’s soft power diplomacy all over the world.
The outcomes generated by these visits have been instrumental in further strengthening and developing the multifaceted ties between the two countries.

HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE MECHANISMS

- India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
  - This is led by the heads of foreign and defence ministries of India and the U.S
- India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue
  - This is led by and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce
- India – U.S. Economic and Financial Partnership
  - This is led by the Finance Minister (FM) and the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
- India-U.S. Trade Policy Forum
  - This is led by the Minister of Commerce and Industry (CIM) and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
- India-U.S. Strategic Energy Partnership
  - This is led by the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the U.S. Secretary of Energy
- India-U.S. Homeland Security Dialogue (HSD)
  - The India-U.S. Homeland Security Dialogue is led by the Minister of Home Affairs and the Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

What Could Drift the US Away?

Strong Indo-Russia Relations:
India’s Possibilities of Cooperation with China
India as a Country of Particular concern
WTO disputes
IPR conflicts
US-Pakistan Relationship

What is the Way Forward?

India-US Military Cooperation
Exploring Opportunities
Cooperation in Security

INDIA AND CHINA

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF INDO CHINA RELATIONS

Factors affecting Indo-China relations

Internal dynamics, interplay of interests and moods of countries in South Asian region and several external parts have significant bearing on the equation and relations between India and China.
Both the countries are member of China-Russia-India trilateral, BRICS, SCO and G20
Both the countries share common interest in promoting globalisation and opposing trade protectionism acumen Global and strategic significance

AREAS OF COOPERATION

Economic cooperation

Indian China have found a room for economic cooperation
New Development Bank
Asian infrastructure investment bank (AIIB)
Bilateral tradeCultural relations
India and China as the two of the oldest civilization being the immediate neighbours have enjoyed trade, cultural and spiritual to their relations from the time in memorial
Buddhism disseminated into China through India along with which Hinduism also made inroads into China

ISSUES

Border dispute

Hydrological disputes

The recent reports indicate China’s plan to build run of the river dams on the transformed river Yarlung Zangbo, the tributary of Brahmaputra
There is no institutionalise mechanism on water cooperation between India and China
The unilateral Chinese construction of dams and water diversion projects threatens the downstream countries including India casting a negative effect on water cooperation
There have also been concerns about a potential to use transform drivers as a strategic means to influence boundary negotiations by China

Issue of Dalai Lama and Tibet question

The presence of more than 100000 Tibetan refugees in India is a constant cause of concern for China
Also, India giving shelter to the lying Lama is a continuous source of irritation for China

India’s membership to nuclear suppliers group (NSG)

China is well established within the Global nuclear order with the veto power for granting membership in NSG
India certainly faces and uneven playing field on the issue of NSG membership due to Chinese constant block of india’s candidature despite clean credentials

Sovereignty issues

The China Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) for Gilgit Baltistan violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India

String of pearls and Indian ocean

China has been trying to expand its naval presence throughout the Indian Ocean region by building Maritime civil infrastructure in friendly States

It has been pursuing a policy of strategic maneuver on a well thought out route encircling India in the Indian Ocean
China has been reaching out to India’s neighbour on the premise of development and trade leading them to a debt trap situation
From Nepal in Southeast to Myanmar, Bangladesh to Sri Lanka in south and Pakistan in the west, China plans to chauk India diplomatically which is a threat to India security

WAY FORWARD

The key is to find a mutually acceptable resolution instead of starting from the historical issues both the countries can resolve the present issues by the use of existing mechanism to resolve the standoff
Also it is necessary for India to build up economic and security capabilities and begin to close the power gap with China
At the same time neither China nor India can afford to turn a blind eye to the huge benefit that intense economic operation can potentially bring out.
- Therefore both countries to try to capitalise on mutual economic benefits while working hard to contain political frictions within manageable limits.