Russia-India ties are ‘exemplary’ – expert

The “time-tested” relations between Russia and India are “exemplary,” and benefit from leadership that works closely across the geopolitical and trade spectrum, a renowned Moscow-based Indologist told RT on Friday.

Lydia Kulik, head of India Studies at the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo, spoke about the prospects for bilateral relations in the wake of Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow this week.

“They [bilateral ties] are quite unique in the international community because I would dare to say that the two countries would never and have never done anything to undermine each other's interests and they have been extremely careful of each other's needs,” Kulik said.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to India by the end of this year for an annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The summit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations against the backdrop of complex geopolitical developments, Lavrov and Jaishankar noted. 

Economic cooperation between Russia and India has increased in the last few years, and the countries have set a trade target of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. India exports about $4.9 billion worth of goods to Russia, while Russia exports about $65 billion worth of goods.

“So we do need to balance this trade,” Kulik said. “But there is a good sign as India’s exports to Russia grew by 21% last year. There is still so much possibility in increasing this trade.”

India’s foreign policy has remained focused on self-sufficiency, development, and the well-being of its people, Kulik said, adding that the recent 50% tariffs imposed on the South Asian nation by the US risked undermining the trust that New Delhi and Washington had long sought to build.