Search on Ifri.org

Frequent searches

Suggestions

India-Russia Relations in Troubled Times: Steady but Stagnating

Papers
|
Date de publication
|
Référence taxonomie collections
Asie Visions
Image de couverture de la publication
couv_av_140_page_1.png
Accroche

This paper examines the trajectory of India-Russia relations post-February 2022. The war in Ukraine emerged as a significant challenge for bilateral ties, presenting new obstacles to political and diplomatic relations and intensifying the previous difficulties in developing economic cooperation.

Image principale
New Delhi, India June 20, 2020: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hugs Russian President Vladimir Putin before a meeting at Hyderabad House. sign a $5 billion deal to buy Russian S-400 air defense
New Delhi, India June 20, 2020: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hugs Russian President Vladimir Putin before a meeting at Hyderabad House. sign a $5 billion deal to buy Russian S-400 air defense
©Exposure Visuals/Shutterstock
Corps analyses

Moscow and New Delhi have demonstrated divergent approaches to the advancement of their strategic partnership. While Russia has rushed into reinventing the old friendship with India, the latter has acted with greater discretion.

New Delhi has demonstrated a nuanced approach to navigating the Russia-Ukraine conflict, staying on good terms with Moscow and the West. India’s record imports of Russian crude and other commodities, at times in defiance of Western sanctions, have allowed for a considerable boost in bilateral trade. While this “oil connection” may benefit both the Indian and Russian economies, it should not be misperceived as a leap forward in partnership.

The structural challenges appear to still prevent the two sides from reinvigorating the economic ties. Furthermore, their geopolitical understanding is waning, and their defense cooperation is currently in a state of limbo. As long as the war in Ukraine persists, India seems to be prioritizing maintaining the status quo in its relationship with Russia over pursuing new initiatives. This may help to prevent the two sides from drifting apart too far in the near term but is unlikely to lead to any substantive progress in their relationship.

Decoration

Available in:

ISBN / ISSN

979-10-373-0868-9

Share

Download the full analysis

This page contains only a summary of our work. If you would like to have access to all the information from our research on the subject, you can download the full version in PDF format.

India-Russia Relations in Troubled Times: Steady but Stagnating

Decoration
Author(s)
Image principale
Asia Map
Center for Asian Studies
Accroche centre

Asia is a nerve center for multiple global economic, political and security challenges. The Center for Asian Studies provides documented expertise and a platform for discussion on Asian issues to accompany decision makers and explain and contextualize developments in the region for the sake of a larger public dialogue.

The Center's research is organized along two major axes: relations between Asia's major powers and the rest of the world; and internal economic and social dynamics of Asian countries. The Center's research focuses primarily on China, Japan, India, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, but also covers Southeast Asia, the Korean peninsula and the Pacific Islands. 

The Centre for Asian Studies maintains close institutional links with counterpart research institutes in Europe and Asia, and its researchers regularly carry out fieldwork in the region.

The Center organizes closed-door roundtables, expert-level seminars and a number of public events, including an Annual Conference, that welcome experts from Asia, Europe and the United States. The work of Center’s researchers, as well as that of their partners, is regularly published in the Center’s electronic journal Asie.Visions.

Image de couverture de la publication
Ramses2024_couv.jpg

RAMSES 2024. A World to Be Remade

Date de publication
06 September 2023
Accroche

For its 42nd edition, RAMSES 2024 identifies three major challenges for 2024. 

France and the Philippines should anchor their maritime partnership

Date de publication
28 March 2025
Accroche

With shared interests in promoting international law and sustainable development, France and the Philippines should strengthen their maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Through bilateral agreements, expanded joint exercises and the exchange of best practices, both nations can enhance maritime domain awareness, counter security threats and develop blue economy initiatives. This deeper collaboration would reinforce stability and environmental stewardship across the region.

The China-led AIIB, a geopolitical tool?

Date de publication
14 March 2025
Accroche

The establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2016, on a Chinese initiative, constituted an attempt to bridge the gap in infrastructure financing in Asia. However, it was also perceived in the West as a potential vehicle for China’s geostrategic agendas, fueling the suspicion that the institution might compete rather than align with existing multilateral development banks (MDBs) and impose its own standards.

Françoise NICOLAS
Image principale

Jammu and Kashmir in the Aftermath of August 2019

Date de publication
25 February 2025
Accroche

The abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), has been on the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for many decades.

Aijaz Ashraf WANI
Page image credits
New Delhi, India June 20, 2020: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hugs Russian President Vladimir Putin before a meeting at Hyderabad House. sign a $5 billion deal to buy Russian S-400 air defense
©Exposure Visuals/Shutterstock

How can this study be cited?

Image de couverture de la publication
couv_av_140_page_1.png
India-Russia Relations in Troubled Times: Steady but Stagnating, from Ifri by
Copy
Image de couverture de la publication
couv_av_140_page_1.png

India-Russia Relations in Troubled Times: Steady but Stagnating