From Steel Plants to S-400s: India-Russia's Strategic Journey

Even with a new policy, India is inclined towards the Soviet Union, which was perceived as a dependable friend in counteracting Western imperialism.

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India-Russia relations have seen a dramatic change from a Cold War-era partnership to a contemporary, multi-dimensional partnership. Their long-term affinity has survived major changes in the world, and the countries' cooperation ranges across political, economic, defense, and cultural domains.

A Shared Vision: Early Days of Cooperation
The India-Russia tie has its origins in 1947, the year India was independent. The Soviet Union, one of the two superpowers of the Cold War, was ascendant, and independent India was looking to make its mark globally. Both nations shared commonalities as both were pro-anti-colonial in their orientations and were eager to facilitate the freedom movements of new nations.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru pursued a policy of non-alignment, attempting to be neutral between the two major sides of the Cold War—the United States and the Soviet Union. Even with this policy, India inclined towards the Soviet Union, which was perceived as a dependable friend in counteracting Western imperialism. For the Soviet Union, India was a crucial player in the new world order and a vital ally in Asia.

During the first phase, economic and military cooperation dominated the relationship. The Soviet Union lent a helping hand to India by assisting the construction of important infrastructure, including the Bhilai Steel Plant in Madhya Pradesh, which was the beginning of an enhanced economic relationship between the two countries.

Cold War Years: Building Bonds Between India and Russia