Jaishankar Recalls Russia’s Historic Support for India, Highlights Enduring Strategic Partnership
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has highlighted the depth of India’s relationship with Russia, recalling Moscow’s support for New Delhi during some of the most challenging periods in the country’s history. His remarks underline how decades of diplomatic engagement and strategic cooperation continue to shape India-Russia relations.
Speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in New Delhi, Jaishankar pointed out that India’s relationship with Russia has remained strong since the 1950s. He recalled that there were periods when much of the world was supportive of Pakistan, while the Soviet Union stood by India when its territorial integrity and security were under pressure.
According to Jaishankar, such historical experiences matter when India assesses its relationships with major powers. The remarks come at a time when India-Russia ties remain under close international attention because of their expanding economic, energy and defence cooperation.
Soviet Union’s Support During the 1971 War
One of the most significant moments in India-Soviet relations came during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The geopolitical situation at the time was complicated, with Pakistan receiving support from the United States and China. Against this backdrop, the Soviet Union provided important diplomatic and political backing to India.
The signing of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation between India and the Soviet Union in August 1971 further strengthened bilateral relations. The treaty reflected the growing strategic understanding between the two countries and became an important factor in the diplomatic environment surrounding the 1971 conflict.
The Soviet Union had also played a role in the aftermath of the 1965 India-Pakistan war. Moscow hosted the Tashkent negotiations in January 1966, where India and Pakistan signed the Tashkent Declaration. These episodes helped establish a relationship in which Moscow became an important diplomatic partner for New Delhi.
Defence Cooperation Remains an Important Pillar
Defence cooperation has traditionally been one of the strongest foundations of India-Russia relations. Over several decades, India acquired a wide range of military platforms and systems from the Soviet Union and later Russia.
However, the relationship has gradually moved beyond a conventional buyer-seller arrangement. Cooperation has increasingly involved joint development and production, technology transfer and manufacturing within India. Projects such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile have become examples of the technological dimension of the partnership.
This long defence relationship has also created institutional familiarity between the two countries, allowing cooperation to continue even as India's strategic partnerships have expanded across the world.
Energy and Trade Give the Partnership a New Dimension
The economic dimension of India-Russia relations has become increasingly important in recent years. Energy has emerged as a major area of cooperation, with Russian crude oil, coal and fertilisers contributing significantly to India's energy and economic requirements.
Bilateral trade has also grown substantially, reaching record levels in recent years. According to the Indian Embassy in Moscow, bilateral trade reached around $68.7 billion during the financial year 2024-25. The increase has been driven largely by India's imports of Russian energy and other commodities, while Indian exports include pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery and other products.
Both countries have also set an ambitious target of taking bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. The focus on investment, connectivity, manufacturing, energy and technology indicates that the relationship is increasingly being shaped by economic interests alongside traditional strategic cooperation.
India Maintains Its Diplomatic Position on Ukraine
Jaishankar's comments also come against the backdrop of India's approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the path towards resolving the conflict.
India has maintained communication with both Moscow and Kyiv and has sought to contribute to diplomatic efforts rather than aligning itself completely with either side. Jaishankar has indicated that India's engagement has moved beyond simply calling for dialogue, with discussions involving issues such as maritime security, food supplies, energy and the broader search for a possible settlement.
India's position reflects its longstanding foreign-policy approach of maintaining strategic autonomy while engaging with multiple major powers. New Delhi continues to maintain its relationship with Russia while also deepening partnerships with the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia and other countries.
A Partnership Adapting to a Changing World
The importance of Jaishankar's remarks lies in the fact that India-Russia relations cannot be understood only through present-day geopolitical developments. The partnership has been built over decades and has survived major changes in the international system, including the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
At the same time, India-Russia ties are not frozen in the past. Defence cooperation has expanded into joint production, energy has become a major component of bilateral trade, and cooperation continues in areas such as nuclear energy, space, technology and investment.
India's engagement with Russia therefore combines historical experience with contemporary national interests. New Delhi's approach is based on maintaining relationships that serve India's strategic, economic and security requirements while preserving the freedom to engage with other global powers.
The MGMM Outlook
Jaishankar’s remarks highlight the depth of India-Russia relations, which have been shaped by decades of diplomatic trust, strategic cooperation and support during critical moments. From the Soviet Union’s role during the 1971 war and the Tashkent process after the 1965 conflict to long-standing defence cooperation, the partnership has developed through changing global circumstances. Today, cooperation has expanded into areas such as BrahMos, energy, trade, nuclear power, space and technology, giving the relationship significance beyond its historical foundations.
India-Russia ties also demonstrate the importance of maintaining strategic flexibility in a changing international environment. India continues to engage with Russia on areas that serve its national interests while simultaneously strengthening partnerships with other major global powers. The growth in bilateral trade, energy cooperation and joint technological initiatives shows that the relationship is adapting to contemporary priorities. Historical trust remains an important foundation, while present-day economic, defence and strategic interests continue to give the partnership relevance for the future.
(Sources: OpIndia, India Today, Times of India)
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