The Indo-Russian Relations in the Post cold War Phase:
1. The erstwhile USSR disintegrated in December 1991. But it did not affect India's relations with Russia and most of the other countries of the former Soviet Union. The visit of Russian President Boris Yeltsin to India in. January 1993 further cemented Indo-Russian relations. India is still a key factor for Russia and the friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time. Both the countries signed a New Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation on 28th January, 1993. This treaty replaced the 1971 India. Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation. Both the countries are co-operating in the field of defence, trade and commerce science and technology and culture. Russia has been supplying us spare parts for the Indian defence forces.
2. Our External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh visited Moscow on June.21,2000 for the first of several high-level India-Russia contacts that set the bilateral tone for the post-Yeltsin era. Mr. Putin's (Russian President) planned October visit to India will further boost the ties between the two countries.
3. The Indo-Russian relations attained a new high and momentum with the signing of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee's November 2001 visit resulted in the signing of the Declaration on International Terrorism. This declaration condemned the double standard adopted by the west on terrorism.
4. Although Russia is not a super power any more, its significance for India cannot be underestimated. Being a permanent member of the Security Council of the UN, it has the power of veto. Further, as you already know, Russia is the only important world power that has consistently supported the Indian position on Kashmir and cross-border terrorism. It holds Pakistan responsible for the spread of religious extremism and terrorism in this part of the world.
5. The most recent support for Kashmir came in the form of the joint statement issued at the end of three days visit of Prime Minister Vajpayee to Moscow in November 2003.
6. It called upon Pakistan to prevent infiltration of terrorists across the LoC and at the other points of the border into the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
7. It also asked Pakistan to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled territory as a condition for purposeful dialogue between the two countries. Among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
8. Russia is the most prominent and unequivocal supporter of India's candidature for permanent membership in an expanded Security Council.
9. Russia remains India's most reliable supplier of inexpensive but high-quality military equipment. Russia supplies more than seventy per cent of India's defence needs including the state-of-the-art weapon systems and the technologies. The major Russian defence exports include fighter aircraft (such as MiG-21), main battle tanks (like T-72 MI), helicopters, anti-tank missiles, anti-ship missiles, submarines, nuclear submarines (of Akula-2 class) and aircraft-carriers (such as Gorshkov).
10. In a "landmark deal" in January 2004, India agreed to buy the refurbished Admiral Gorskhov along with 12 MiG-29 fighter-aircraft.The aircraft carrier will be delivered to India by 2008.
11. Defence co-operation between India and Russia is not limited to procurement but includes production of many of these weapon systems in India (e.g. MiG-27M, Sukhoi-30MK T-72 tanks, etc.). It also covers areas like joint research and development and service to service co-operation. One of the most striking examples) is the Indo-Russian joint endeavour to develop, manufacture and market the supersonic (flying faster than the speed of sound) Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Systems, BrahMos.
