Russia reaffirms support to India

Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to India's candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and a membership in the Nuclear Supplier Group.

Russia extends support

In the annual bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two sides resolved to enhance their cooperation on multilateral fora like the BRICS, WTO, G20, Shanghai Cooperation and Russia-India-China cooperation. Putin extended his support to India's permanency in the security council. He further stated that UN needs to reform and make the United Nations Security Council more representative of contemporary issues along with responding effectively to emerging challenges and threats.

Putin also backed India's bid to the 48 member NSG group which China has been opposing. Russia believes that India's participation in multilateral export control regimes will contribute to their  enhancement. At the summit the two sides opposed One Belt One Road project of China as both countries are against any recourse to unilateralism. This is of specific interest to India since it opposes China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a part of OBOR project.

India-Russia relations

Russia has been the most trusted ally of India. The countries  have shared strategic, military, economic and diplomatic relations for years. The Indo-Russian intergovernmental commission is one of the largest comprehensive governmental mechanisms that India has had with any country internationally. However, the 1960s were testing times for the two, when Russia started getting closer to Pakistan. After the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Russia reduced its support to India on the Kashmir issue. Also Russia's recent military exercises in Pakistan at the Khyber Pass despite Pakistani based terrorist attack in Uri caused major dismay to India. In 2014, India was also seen abstaining from voting in favor of Russia on the Ukraine issue  to maintain its neutrality with Russia and the US.

Assessment

India and Russia have been maintaining diplomatic relations with each other. Although Russia is committed to supply nuclear power and installing nuclear power plants, it  was also seen extending its support to Pakistan in form of military exercises which could eventually threaten India. India needs to be cautious of Russia's support since history suggests that the recent developments may just be a hyperbole.However, Russia's support in opposing the CPEC is of great significance as it would help India in counterbalancing Pakistan and China.