Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist October 2019

SPECIAL REPORT interaction, revive lapsed defence programmes, promote reciprocal visits by senior military personnel, and organise joint military exercises. Several more forums too exist to provide impetus to cooperation in other areas. These include the India-Russia Forum on Trade and Investment, India-Russia Business Council, India-Russia Trade, Investment and Technology Promotion Council, and the India-Russia Chamber of Commerce. In short, this history of mutual cooperation symbolises the synergy between the two countries on global issues, economic relations, defence cooperation, space, nuclear energy, and cultural exchange, amongst others. The present state of cooperation The political relations between the two countries are predicated on their convergence of interest at various international forums like the United Nations (UN), Brazil-Russia-India-China- South Africa (BRICS), the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). While Russia supports Delhi’s case for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, India has been supportive of Moscow’s desire to secure observer status in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The most consistent support for India from Russia, however, has come on the vexatious issue of Kashmir. In recent years, trade and economic cooperation has been emerging as a high-priority area. Consequently, the overall investment target of USD 30 billion set for 2025 was achieved in 2017 itself, necessitating an upward revision to USD 50 billion for the same period. To achieve this, a single-window mechanism was set up by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development in 2018 to facilitate investment and mutual trade in sectors like hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, mining, fertilizers, heavy engineering, gems and jewellery, chemicals, fertilizers, agriculture and food processing and so far it seems to be progressing satisfactorily. Cooperation in the energy sector, including nuclear energy, has been a cornerstone of the economic relations between the two countries. India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has made a substantial investment in Russia and the Gas Authority of India (GAIL) is jointly developing a block in the Bay of Bengal along with the Russian company, Gazprom. India’s largest nuclear power plant at Kundankulam in Tamil Nadu, built with Russian collaboration and ﬁ nancial assistance, is already generating 1000 MW of electricity through each of its two units. Another two units of the plant are under execution. The Integrated Long-Term Programme of Co-operation (ILTP) in the ﬁ eld of science and technology covers a wide range of projects related to semiconductors, supercomputers, poly-vaccines, laser technology, seismology, high-purity materials, IT software, and Ayurveda. Both countries are now also exploring the possibility of cooperation in conducting a manned space ﬂ ight. In the decades following the Soviet Union’s collapse, bilateral cooperation in the defence ﬁ eld took a beating as a large proportion of Moscow’s military-industrial complex was scattered across the numerous Republics that had broken away. But, in recent years this slide has been arrested with India either acquiring or being in advanced negotiations for materiel worth around USD18 billion. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 10 • October 2019, Noida • 15

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