From the Ganges to the Volga – Brahmaputra to the Moskva, the flow of eternal friendship

By Professor Debanjan Banerjee

Let us start with the two famous quotes….

“A friend in need is a friend indeed,” and “A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

The way the Volga, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the Moskva are flowing, the friendship between India and Russia is timeless towards eternity.

The friendship has passed and been tested over seven decades. Many external forces tried to damage and dampen this bonding for their cunning global power equations, but all attempts were in vain; on the contrary, New Delhi and Moscow became closer amidst these sneaky ploys.

From Nikolai Bulganin, the then Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, and Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, who first visited India in November 1955, to present President Vladimir Putin’s visit on December 4-5, 2025, in New Delhi, the relationship between these two giants of the present world has strengthened more and more.

At this point, these two countries are the heart and soul of one body—the body of prosperity, growth, and power of the world.

Indeed, the three Cs of Friendship—Comrades (for a cause/situation), Constituents (for mutual benefits), and Confidants (for unconditional support) are omnipresent. Nowadays, this relationship emerges as perhaps the most consequential bilateral bonding and partnership in international diplomacy, transcending mere strategic cooperation. At this crucial juncture of conflict and international diplomacy, Russia remains India's most cooperative partner in high-tech defence and oil supplies, the most important ingredients in the present global power index.

Through this partnership, India prevents Russia's complete pivot to China, ensures stability in global energy markets, and maintains a moderate voice in emerging power blocs like BRICS. 

However, there are encounters for India to navigate, such as balancing its ties with the U.S. and Western nations, particularly NATO.  Now India needs to work proactively to safeguard its strategic autonomy and sustain this vital partnership amidst shifting global dynamics.

Both India and Russia have to balance and control the power dynamics in their favour in the long run, the biggest challenge. But the intent and the execution method to date, especially the BRICS success, are the biggest hope. Day by day, the long-awaited parallel economic zone and international transaction devoid of the dollar and euro, altered by BRICS currency, is no longer a reverie.

Before we go further, let us have an idea of how these two friends’ relations evolved:

Cold War Solidarity (1950-1991):

1) Soviet support for India on key issues like Kashmir and Goa’s liberation reflected shared strategic interests. 

     2) The 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation was pivotal during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

     3) Post-Soviet Adjustment (1991-2000): 

     4)Following the Soviet Union’s dissolution, India and Russia recalibrated their relationship to sustain defence and strategic ties. 

Strategic Partnerships: 

      1)    2000: The Strategic Partnership Declaration institutionalised cooperation across sectors. 

      2)     2010: The partnership was elevated to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, reflecting its         unique depth. 

Now, the recent trade expansion: 

     1)  Bilateral trade hit a record high of $65.7 billion in FY 2023-24, with India’s exports growing by 42.7% and imports declining by 39.9%, showcasing reduced dependency on Russian oil.

     2)    Key exports from India: pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, and machinery. 

     3)    Major imports from Russia: oil, fertilisers, and minerals. 

     4)    In October 2024, India and Russia convened their first working group meeting on the Northern Sea Route. 

Now let’s talk about the current status of Indo-Russian relations in a changing global order:

1) Strategic Autonomy Amid Geopolitical Rivalries: India’s ties with Russia exemplify strategic autonomy as New Delhi strengthens partnerships globally without aligning with any bloc.  

2) Amid Western sanctions, India has deepened energy and defence ties with Russia while maintaining strong relations with the US and EU. 

3) During the Indian prime minister’s visit to Moscow in July 2024, both countries outlined the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, aiming to significantly boost bilateral trade by 2030. 

Energy Security as a Cornerstone: India has leveraged Russia’s pivot to Asia for reliable energy access, ensuring affordability and supply security. European sanctions on Russian imports provided India with an opportunity to secure energy at lower costs, cushioning it from the volatility of global oil prices. 

Russian oil now accounts for 35% of India’s total crude imports, while bilateral trade hit $65.7 billion in FY 2023-24, reflecting pragmatic economic engagement.  Russian assistance in the  Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant continues to be a cornerstone of the partnership. 

India’s investments in Russian oil fields like Sakhalin and Tomsk ensure a steady supply of energy resources.

Defence Cooperation—From Buyer to Co-Developer: 

The defence partnership has transitioned from procurement to co-development, enhancing India’s indigenous capabilities and strategic autonomy.  

Flagship programs like BrahMos missiles and Su-30 MKI production embody this evolution. Russia still supplies 45% of India’s defence imports, despite India diversifying to other suppliers like France and Israel.  In 2024, India and Russia expanded the Make in India initiative to include the joint production of high-speed electric trains for Indian Railways. 

Economic Diversification Beyond Energy: Economic ties now focus on technology, agriculture, and manufacturing, reducing dependency on oil and fostering mutual growth.

The Rupee-Ruble trade mechanism and FTA negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)   reflect this shift.  Exports to Russia grew by 42.7% in 2024, with pharmaceuticals and machinery leading the feat.

Connectivity to Reshape Global Trade:

India-Russia connectivity projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor bypass traditional routes, reducing dependency on volatile maritime chokepoints.  These routes enhance logistical efficiency and reduce trade time.

INSTC cuts shipping time by 40%, while the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor reduces transit days from 40 to 24, boosting bilateral trade efficiency.

Technology and Space Collaboration:

The partnership extends to cutting-edge fields like AI, biotechnology, and space exploration, reflecting a forward-looking dimension. India and Russia jointly enhance satellite navigation and lunar missions. Partnerships on GLONASS satellite navigation demonstrate high-tech synergy.

In 2024, India and Russia renewed commitments to cooperate on advanced space research, including lunar and human space missions.

Geopolitical Synergy in Multilateral Platforms:

India and Russia share a vision for a multipolar world and collaborate on platforms like BRICS, SCO, and G20 to counter Western dominance. They advocate for local currency trade to diminish dollar hegemony. At the BRICS Summit 2024, India and Russia pushed for alternative financial systems, aligning with India’s push for rupee-denominated trade. Yes, you might get tired of the texts on ties, but the bonding and trust between these two nations is not and never will be.

The entire sea of texts sounds smooth, but while implementing it in reality with a full circle, the sea might face tumultuous tides.

The real challenges India may face :

Balancing Ties with the West and Russia. India’s growing ties with the US and EU, especially through platforms like Quad and trade agreement negotiations with the EU and UK, complicate its relationship with Russia.

Western pressure on India to align with sanctions against Russia puts its strategic autonomy at stake.  Managing the Trade Deficit: India’s trade with Russia is heavily skewed, with imports (mostly oil and fertilisers) vastly outpacing exports, leading to a significant trade imbalance. Limited diversification of exports compounds the issue. 

In FY 2023-24, India’s exports to Russia stood at $4.26 billion, while imports reached $61.44 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $57.18 billion.

Financial and Logistical Challenges: Western sanctions on Russia complicate financial transactions, investments, and logistics for India-Russia trade, increasing costs and uncertainty.

Mechanisms like the Rupee-Ruble trade face implementation challenges. The Vostro account system was created to facilitate trade in local currencies, but its adoption has been slow due to reluctance from private banks fearing secondary sanctions. 

 Navigating Russia-China Proximity:

Russia’s growing alignment with China, particularly in the Arctic and energy projects, presents strategic dilemmas for India. China’s expanding influence in Russia’s Far East also impacts India’s connectivity ambitions. 

Russia-China trade exceeded $200 billion in 2023, with major Arctic investments. While India operationalised the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor, China’s involvement in the Northern Sea Route could limit India’s access. Despite the mentioned ifs and buts, the flow of the Ganges and Volga, as well as the Brahmaputra and Moskva, cannot be stopped, so as the Indo-Russian bond.

About the Contributor

Professor Debanjan Banerjee

Author, editor, speaker, media educator, political commentator on national and international politics, and a leading television debater. Presently Dean, Media Science, Techno India Main Campus, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Can be contacted at [email protected]

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