India's multi-alignment management and the Russia–India–China (RIC) triangle (original) (raw)

India and Russia in International Organizations: Motives, Strategies, and Outcomes

MGIMO Review of International Relations

India and Russia share a vision of a multipolar world, which is reflected in their cooperation within international organizations and fora such as the United Nations, Russia-India-China (RIC), BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). India has shown greater enthusiasm towards RIC and BRICS than SCO due to its non-founder status and concerns over the group's creation to further China's regional agenda. The expansion of BRICS and a potential free trade agreement pose challenges to India-Russia relations and require more bilateral engagement. Russia should realistically assess the benefits of endorsing China's Belt and Road Initiative while also considering the potential of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to access West Asian and South Asian markets and mitigate the impact of Western sanctions on the Russian economy. India and Russia must collaborate to build regional consensus on the INSTC through RIC, BRICS, and SCO platforms. Despit...

'Multialignment and Indian Foreign Policy under Narendra Modi', The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs 105:5 (2016)

This article examines India’s emerging approach to foreign policy: multialignment. It argues that since the mid-2000s India has developed multialignment as a means of achieving what it perceives as its core interests and ideals in international relations. Characterised by an emphasis on engagement in regional multilateral institutions, the use of strategic partnerships, and what is termed ‘normative hedging’, multialignment is being utilised to boost India’s economic development and national security, as well as to project influence and promote its values. The article traces the emergence of this strategy during the governments of Manmohan Singh and its implementation and extension by the new government of Narendra Modi. It analyses the key arguments that have been presented in its favour and the ways in which it was been put into practice. It concludes with a brief assessment of multialignment as a strategy, as well as the prospect that it will deliver the dividends expected by India’s foreign policy elite.

India-Russia Relations in the Emerging World Order (Book Chapter)

India’s Bilateral Relations and Foreign Policy, Edited by Josukutty C A and J. Prabhash New Delhi: New Century Publications, 2018

The fifteenth India-Russia annual summit took place in a fast changing global geopolitical scenario and in a challenging moment in world politics. India and Russia emerged as vital strategic partners representing global transformation from a unipolar world order dominated by one centre to a multipolar order based on multilateralism, principles of UN Charter, non-intervention, cooperation, convergence of national interests, mutual understanding and trust. This is because of the perceived failures of the American “unipolar moment”, which is guided by the principles of pre-emptive strikes, regime change, disarmament and intervention. After twenty-five years of Soviet disintegration, the current geopolitical realities like rift in the US-Russia-Europe relations over Ukraine conflict, global oil crisis, economic crisis, Euro zone crisis, conflict in West Asia, NATO military build-up and expansion to Russia’s border, escalation of terrorist attacks in Europe, emergence of BRICS countries, Russia’s shifting priorities to Asia-Pacific, commencement of Eurasian Economic Union, and shifting power alignments from west to east expose the dangers of unilateralism and reflect a paradigm shift in the world order.

India in a Reconnecting Eurasia: Foreign Economic & Security Interests

India in a Reconnecting Eurasia examines the full scope of Indian national interests in the South Caucasus and Central Asia and analyzes the broad outlines of Indian engagement over the coming years. It is part of a six-part CSIS series, “Eurasia from the Outside In,” which includes studies focusing on Turkey, the European Union, Iran, India, Russia, and China.

India-Russia Strategic Vision: Moving from 'Mutual' to 'Shared Diversified' Interests

Issue Brief, 2020

India and Russia have endorsed the importance of the 'Special and Privileged Strategic' partnership as a result of the historical foundation of the partnership, strategic cultures and also keeping in pace with the geopolitical and geo-economic developments. Given the contemporary geopolitical realities of international relations, India and Russia have pursued a pragmatic approach to promote their respective foreign policy interests. In the context of growing security and strategic concerns, the engagement of both India and Russia with other international actors such as India's growing proximity with the US and Russia's strengthening of relations with China has resulted in diversifying the foreign policy approach respectively. These developments call for an assessment of what the India-Russia strategic partnership holds in coming years.

The Key Features of Relations between Russia and India in the Context of a Shifting Balance of Power in Asia

Kirill Likhachev. The Key Features of Relations between Russia and India in the Context of a Shifting Balance of Power in Asia // Stosunki Miedzynarodowe - International Relations nr. 2 (t. 54), p. 51-78., 2018

This paper intends to answer the question of how Sino-Indian controversies, specifically relations between India and the US, and Sino-Russian cooperation influence the ties between Russia and India. The paper offers an analysis of the key fields of cooperation between Russia and India, which are mainly defined by a strong interdependence in a number of areas, such as military and technical cooperation and nuclear energy. Through the lens of the neo realist paradigm, the current relations between Russia and India are studied in the context of each country's relations with the US and the PRC. The balance of power in Asia is shifting towards China due to its dynamic foreign policy and economic expansion during the past decade. As a result, China's increasing activities in Asia reduce India's potential for development, while a worsening confrontation between the US and Russia forces Moscow to drift towards Beijing. The paper concludes that the actual cooperation between Russia and India is mutually beneficial and to a large extent supports New Delhi's ambitions to contain a shift in the balance o f power in Asia. However, the escalating Sino-Indian controversies and a growing rapprochement between Russia and China could cause a deterioration in relations between Russia and India. This, in turn, could predetermine India's choice in favour of a close rapport with the US in the longer term.

Indian Foreign Policy in an Increasingly Connected Eurasia

Rome, IAI, November 2019, 4 p. (IAI Commentaries ; 19|64), 2019

Limited in its geostrategic reach to the northeast by Pakistan and faced with a rising China and the global shift towards East Asia, India too aims to increase connectivity with its Eastern neighbours. During his first term as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi elevated India's 'Look East' policy to an 'Act East' policy. There is great potential here because South Asia is still one of the least integrated regions in the world.