India and Russia: Allies in the International Political System

In: South Asian survey: a journal of the Indian Council for South Asian Cooperation, Band 15, Heft 1, S. 49-62

Abstract

India is seeking a greater role for itself in the international system. This aspiration is based on the view that India is a stable democracy with significant human and material resources; it is an increasingly important economic power; it has an established record as a responsible and law abiding state; and it has consistently voiced the concerns of the developing countries as a leader of the non-aligned group. Indian foreign policy makers argue that at this stage of 'take off' as a great power India needs to re-invent itself. For this proposed new role India requires new allies and partnerships, including with the dominant superpower, the United States of America (US). The US has stated that it will make India into a great power. What is the US interest in India? How will this new interest and tie-up affect India's traditional partners like Russia? This article seeks to analyse the old model of relations that India enjoyed with Russia. This model is now being given up. Its place is being taken by an Indo-US strategic partnership. How different is this new model strategic relationship in comparison to the Indo-Soviet/Russian relationship? Some of these issues are addressed in this article.