Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist October 2019 | Page 10

Strategic Contours of India’s Engagement in
Russia’s Far East and the Significance of Eastern
Economic Forum (EEF)
Dr. Nalin Kumar Mohapatra*
T
he successful completion of the visit of
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
the Russia’s Far East as Chief Guest to
attend the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) which
took place at Vladivostok from 3-4 September
2019 is considered to be a ‘game-changer’ as
far strategizing India’s foreign policy towards
the region in particular and Russia in general
concerned. Along with attending the EEF, he
also met President Vladimir Putin of Russia
for the annual bilateral summit meeting at the
sideline of the EEF. Over a period of time, India
has cemented its place in the global polity not
only as an economic power but also a leading
technological player. It is in this context, the
visit of Prime Minister Modi to Russia has been
quite signifi cant. This is because, Russia, wants
Indian investment in its Far East which will give
10 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 10 • October 2019, Noida
a new dimension to the economic developments
of this region. It will also “reboot” the strategic
significance of this region which is located
adjacent to the Indo-Pacifi c region. By inviting
Indian Prime Minister as Chief Guest at the EEF,
the Russian policymakers demonstrated that
they are putting both India and China on equal
footing in recent years though at a “normative
framework’. It may be recalled here that only
last year (2018), Chinese President Xi Jinping
attended the Forum as the Chief Guest.
Russia’s Far East which is considered to be an
isolated geopolitical entity couple of years back
is assuming the centre stage in recent years in
the “geopolitical map” of Eurasia. The opening
up of the Arctic region along with the growing
signifi cance of the Northern Sea Route (NSR),
emergence of rising economies in the adjoining