Soviet Union and India India–Russia relations

soviet ambassador kirill novikov arriving in new delhi 1947 establish formal diplomatic relations india



soviet stamp celebrating indo-soviet friendship & cooperation

a cordial relationship india began in 1950s represented successful of soviet attempts foster closer relations third world countries. relationship began visit indian prime minister jawaharlal nehru soviet union in june 1955 , khrushchev s return trip india in fall of 1955. while in india, khrushchev announced soviet union supported indian sovereignty on disputed territory of kashmir region , on portuguese coastal enclaves such goa.

the soviet union s strong relations india had negative impact upon both soviet relations people s republic of china, including indian relations prc, during khrushchev period. soviet union declared neutrality during 1959 border dispute , sino-indian war of october 1962, although chinese objected. soviet union gave india substantial economic , military assistance during khrushchev period, , 1960 india had received more soviet assistance china had. disparity became point of contention in sino-soviet relations. in 1962 soviet union agreed transfer technology co-produce mikoyan-gurevich mig-21 jet fighter in india, soviet union had earlier denied china.

in 1965 soviet union served peace broker between india , pakistan after indian-pakistani border war. soviet chairman of council of ministers, literally premier of soviet union, alexei kosygin, met representatives of india , pakistan , helped them negotiate end military conflict on kashmir.

in 1971 former east pakistan region initiated effort secede political union west pakistan. india supported secession and, guarantee against possible chinese entrance conflict on side of west pakistan, signed soviet union indo-soviet treaty of friendship , cooperation in august 1971. in december, india entered conflict , ensured victory of secessionists , establishment of new state of bangladesh.

relations between soviet union , india did not suffer during rightist janata party s coalition government in late 1970s, although india did move establish better economic , military relations western countries. counter these efforts india diversify relations, soviet union proffered additional weaponry , economic assistance.

during 1980s, despite 1984 assassination sikh separatists of prime minister indira gandhi, mainstay of cordial indian-soviet relations, india maintained close relationship soviet union. indicating high priority of relations soviet union in indian foreign policy, new indian prime minister, rajiv gandhi, visited soviet union on first state visit abroad in may 1985 , signed 2 long-term economic agreements soviet union. in turn, gorbachev s first visit third world state meeting prime minister rajiv gandhi in new delhi in late 1986. mikhail gorbachev unsuccessfully urged gandhi soviet union set asian collective security system. gorbachev s advocacy of proposal, had been made leonid brezhnev, indication of continuing soviet interest in using close relations india means of containing china. improvement of sino-soviet relations in late 1980s, containing china had less of priority, close relations india remained important example of gorbachev s new third world policy.