The Dosti India and Russia's Enduring Friendship

For more than half a century, the bond between India and Russia has been described not just as diplomacy but as dosti, a friendship rooted in trust and mutual respect. This partnership has seen wars, shifting world orders, and the turbulence of sanctions and new alignments. Here is how it grew and where it stands today.

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The Origins of Dosti

• 1950s and 1960s: The Soviet Union supported India's industrialisation, helping build steel plants like Bhilai and Bokaro. Soviet engineers and Indian planners worked side by side, sometimes struggling with translation issues but still pushing ahead.

• 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation: Signed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, it cemented Soviet support for India against the US, China and Pakistan. Soviet naval moves in the Indian Ocean gave India room to act with confidence.

• UN Security Council: The Soviet Union often used its veto to block resolutions against India, especially on Kashmir.

Defence as the Cornerstone

• Around 60 to 70 percent of India's military equipment comes from Soviet or Russian origin. This made India's armed forces heavily dependent, which sometimes created supply delays.

• Iconic platforms include MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets, T72 and T90 tanks, INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, nuclear submarines like INS Chakra, and the S400 system.