In News:

• India and Russia marked 25 years of their Strategic Partnership in 2025, reaffirming their time-tested friendship and multifaceted cooperation amid a shifting global order.
• The partnership, first formalised in October 2000 through a declaration signed by President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was upgraded in 2010 to a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” This milestone underscores the enduring relevance of bilateral ties grounded in mutual trust, strategic autonomy, and converging global outlooks.

Evolution of the Partnership

• Over the last quarter-century, the India–Russia relationship has transitioned from a Cold War–era friendship to a broad-based strategic partnership encompassing defence, nuclear energy, science and technology, hydrocarbons, and space cooperation.
• Institutional mechanisms like the Intergovernmental Commission (IRIGC) and the 2+2 Dialogue framework have ensured sustained policy coordination across political, economic, and defence domains.
• At the 22nd Annual Summit held in Moscow in July 2024, both nations adopted joint statements on partnership and economic cooperation till 2030, alongside signing nine MoUs across critical sectors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also conferred Russia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Saint Andrew, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations.

Multilateral and Global Engagement

• India and Russia continue to coordinate closely in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations (UN), G20, BRICS, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• During India’s G20 and SCO presidencies in 2023, the two nations held multiple high-level engagements, reaffirming commitment to a multipolar, rules-based international order.
• Russia has consistently supported India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, underscoring its trust in India’s global leadership role.
• Russia’s BRICS chairmanship in 2024 further strengthened this cooperation, with India actively participating in the Leaders’ Summit in Kazan, reflecting mutual alignment on global economic and security issues.

Economic and Trade Relations

• Economic engagement has become the new anchor of India–Russia relations. Bilateral trade reached a record USD 65.7 billion in FY 2023–24, driven by India’s rising imports of crude oil, fertilizers, and minerals, and exports of pharmaceuticals, machinery, and engineering goods.
• Both nations aim to elevate bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030 and mutual investments to USD 50 billion by 2025.
• Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are underway, expected to further liberalise trade flows and enhance connectivity through initiatives like the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Arctic route cooperation.
• Emerging areas such as shipbuilding, railways, aircraft construction, and small modular nuclear reactors reflect the partnership’s adaptation to new technological and developmental priorities.

Defence and Security Cooperation

Defence remains the cornerstone of the India–Russia partnership. The collaboration has evolved from a buyer–seller relationship to joint production and technology co-development.

Key projects include:

• S-400 Triumf missile systems
• Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighter jets
• T-90 tanks and AK-203 rifles
• INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier
• BrahMos missile joint venture, a symbol of high-end defence collaboration

Joint military exercises such as INDRA and Vostok enhance interoperability and strategic trust. The cooperation under IRIGC–Military and Military Technical Cooperation (M&MTC) ensures continuous modernization of India’s armed forces with Russian collaboration.

Science, Technology, and Space Cooperation

• Science and technology have emerged as vital pillars of bilateral engagement. A 2021 roadmap guides collaboration in nanotechnology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and space exploration.
• The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant remains a flagship project, with plans for future units under discussion.
• New initiatives are fostering innovation and youth cooperation through institutions like the Sirius Educational Foundation and Atal Innovation Mission, encouraging joint research and startup linkages.
• Both sides are exploring joint lunar and spaceflight missions, expanding beyond traditional sectors to future-ready technologies.

People-to-People and Educational Exchanges

Beyond strategic sectors, cultural, educational, and academic exchanges have deepened mutual understanding. Student exchanges, scholarships, and Russian language learning in Indian institutions have strengthened grassroots connections. Tourism and labour mobility are emerging as new frontiers of bilateral engagement.

Outlook and Way Forward

Marking 25 years of partnership, India and Russia are renewing their cooperation to align with the demands of a multipolar and technology-driven world. The relationship is now expanding into innovation-led, climate-conscious, and connectivity-focused domains, while retaining its traditional strengths in defence and energy.

The upcoming 2025 bilateral summit in New Delhi—coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the “Special and Privileged” status—is expected to chart a roadmap for the next phase, prioritising:

• Concluding the India–EAEU Free Trade Agreement,
• Enhancing energy security and Arctic cooperation,
• Promoting defenceindigenisation, and
• Strengthening regional stability in Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific.