India and Russia should develop a strategic partnership: current foreign policy

Despite growing unease in many Western nations, India’s imports of Russian crude oil have increased dramatically in recent months.

According to an updated foreign policy doctrine that President Vladimir Putin approved on March 31, Russia will prioritise enhancing its strategic partnership and trade ties with India in Eurasia and ensuring their resistance to “destructive actions” of unfriendly states and their alliances.

Despite Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, relations between India and Russia remained solid. Despite growing unease over it in many Western nations, India has increased its imports of Russian crude oil during the past few months.

Strengthening the strategic cooperation and expanding economic and other links with India is one of Russia’s main areas in Eurasia, according to the revised Concept of Foreign Policy.

In a paragraph on Eurasia, it is stated that “Russia will continue to develop a particularly privileged strategic partnership with the Republic of India with a view to enhancing and expanding cooperation in all areas on a mutually beneficial basis and place special emphasis on increasing the volume of bilateral trade, strengthening investment and technological ties, and ensuring their resistance to destructive actions of unfriendly states and their alliances.”

The plan was adopted when tensions over the conflict between the U.S. and Russia were rising. At the same time, the U.S. was supporting Ukraine militarily, economically, and diplomatically.

India has not yet denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has insisted that diplomacy and communication are the only ways to find a solution to the problem.

The entirety of Europe and Asia make up the largest continent on Earth, which is known as Eurasia.

The idea further stated that Russia supports enhancing the potential and expanding the global role of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Regional Integration Community (RIC) (Russia, India, China).

The Russian Federation intends to prioritise strengthening the capacity and international role of the interstate association of BRICS, SCO, CIS, the EAEU, the CSTO, the RIC and other interstate associations and international organisations, as well as mechanisms with significant Russian participation, according to the document. This will help adapt the global order to the realities of a multipolar world.