Hello friends, hope you are doing well. Let's travel to the northern country of the world. There lies Siberia, Trans Siberian Railway line, and the Queen of huge landmass, Moscow. You are right! Its Russia. One may wonder why are an Elephant and Bear here? Various countries are referred with nicknames in international politics. Russia is entitled as Bear. And who is the Elephant? India.
Let's have a brief account of how this friendship has evolved over years and has been more mature in handling concerns in between through diplomacy and dialogue.
When India became independent in 1947, winds of the cold war between the Western capitalist camp and the Communist camp of the USSR had started USSR(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was a modified confederation of Russia and its neighbors after October Revolution in 1917 under the Communist flag. In such tense atmosphere, India adopted a policy of nonalignment with both blocks- to gain benefits from both for its economic development.
USA and western camp saw India as potential ally of Communist Russia and didnt do much favour in terms of assistance. USSR saw opportunity to enter into Indian Ocean through helping India and do favours. This was how it all started.
USSR did credible help to nascent Independent India in terms of defense technology, civil nuclear energy,space etc. One can cite numerous instances where USSR used its veto in UN security council to dismiss disputable resolutions on Kashmir. India's atomic energy programme, space programme took roots because of Russian aid.
However, it was not benevolence of USSR that was helping India nor it was one way, assistance model. India also remained neutral on issue on Hungary and criticised Russia only that much that will not break its relations with West or loose the attraction it has gained in Russian eyes.
USSR stayed neutral in both wars of 1962 and 1965. In 1965 it also attempted to flirt with Pakistan to convince later to buy weapons from it. India became a little too close with USSR which proved to be a Pragmatic move under the changed circumstances of entangling of the Pakistan-China- USA axis on the verge of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. Indo Soviet Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed in August 1971. The bond between the two became deeper.
The relationship grew much stronger without much issue till 1991. USSR vanished from the map of the world by end of 1991. It collapsed like a house of cards because of different political, economic, cultural, geostrategic reasons.
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| Soviet States before 1991. Russia emerged as a successor of USSR |
The collapse gave rise to a Unipolar world, ending an era of the bipolarity of the cold war. USA emerged as a lone superpower. These twists also had a heavy impact on Indo-Soviet ties. India lost its umbrella cover in world politics. It had to turn its attention to USA hereafter.
1991 marks the watershed in the story of an elephant and Bear. The journey becomes a rollercoaster after this. The changed circumstances in an era of globalization, a Unipolar world, free markets also changed the destiny of this affair.
How? Let's see in the next article.
