India & Quad: Effect on Indo – Russian Relations

Pic Courtesy: World Map Poster

The Quad, officially the ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’, is a strategic forum between the four nations (US, India, Australia and Japan) for exchanging strategic intelligence and conducting joint military exercises. Officially, the grouping was conceived as a space to cooperate for safeguarding joint security and other interests in the Indo-Pacific region. So far, Quad meetings have semi-regularly happened only at the foreign ministers’ level.

There is much more to Quad but this article is about effect of Quad on Indo – Russia relations.

Russian View. Russia views India’s ties with Quad unfavourably. It considers the Quad to be a US led grouping hostile to the interests of Russia and China.  It feels that India is getting into the “trap” of the Indo-Pacific. Being US led grouping it feels that Quad would have an anti-Russia charter in some form or the other.  Russia also shares it fears with China that the Quad may turn into a military alliance in future, calling it a potential Asian NATO. Their combined stand is that military alliances of any form in Asia is inadvisable and counterproductive. Russia along with China is very vocal about it and they keep cautioning / threatening India not to covertly or overtly get involved in it.

Indian Compulsions. There is a global rebalancing of geopolitical alliances taking place. The rapid progress made by China in economic, technological and military fields, its belligerent attitude and aggressive policy towards its neighbours and India in particular is resetting the relationships among the major powers. India has no choice but to seek closer ties with likeminded countries to address its asymmetry and security challenges with China and Pakistan. My personal view is that India should keep an open mind even for a military alliance if need so arises in future.

 

Pic Courtesy: The Asian Age

 

Maintaining Balance. While maintaining a balance between Indo – Russian and Indo – US relations, Indian Compulsions and views need to be conveyed forcefully that association with Quad is a necessity pushed due to Chinese attitude and behaviour. The policy is not aimed against Russia in any way and is open to all including even Russia. While doing so Russia also needs to be reminded about its increased friendship and enhanced relationship with Pakistan and China.

 

This article when read with the previous two articles, provides more comprehensive picture of Indo – Russian relations

लाल टोपी रुसी – दिल हिन्दुस्तानी: Indo – Russian Relations

INDO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS: US-Pak-China Factors

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References:

1. https://warontherocks.com/2017/11/rise-fall-rebirth-quad/
2. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/explained-what-is-quad-summit-meeting-narendra-modi-joe-biden-india-us-australia-japan-6637191.html
3. https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/the-quad-what-it-is-and-what-it-is-not/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrilateral_Security_Dialogue