Modi’s Russia visit will stitch a new narrative of friendship

When Narendra Modi lands in St Petersburg on June 2, he will have the honour of marking his presence at the beginning of a very special event — the 70th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia. Soviet Russia’s diplomatic relations with India date back to the time when the country was still to attain independence. 

In today’s day and age, it is Putin, who, with his dynamic and strong no-nonsense approach to terrorism, is one of the most loved foreign icons among Indians. The same compliment can be extended to Modi, who personifies friendly relationships and India’s growing power among Russians. India-Russia relations, besides being age-old, also form a core pillar of our foreign policy. 

And as the stars foretell, Putin, the iron man of Russia, and Narendra Modi, India’s new destiny- maker, may walk together beyond 2024. The Russian presidential elections are slated for 2018 and Modi is all set to win 2019 for another five years. That makes them the most sought-after global leaders in a fast-changing strategic architecture.

So, what will be the agenda of the Modi-Putin summit in St Petersburg? This beautiful port city will see, for the first time, an Indian leader addressing one of the most important economic summits called the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which essentially is a Russian version of Davos WEF, where top Russian economic leaders, industrial giants and financial wizards will be present. 

Modi is expected to share his views on India’s fabulous economic rejuvenation under his government, impress the global economic giants and invite more Russian investments. But the emphasis this time will be more on expanding bilateral cooperation beyond the time-tested and tried areas of defence, energy and science and technology to other so far un-serviced areas of trade and industrial cooperation. 

In spite of diversifying our defence basket due to need-based reasons, our defence platforms are still reliant on Russian imports. 

From BrahMos to supplying nuclear reactors for Kudankulam I and II, Russia has always been by  India’s side. They were the first to help India start its space programme. Perhaps, it is only with the Russians that the uninterrupted chain of summit-level meetings are being held since 2000, and this will be the 18th in a row. This is an unprecedented and extraordinary continuity of age-old ties indeed. These summits are necessarily followed with long, one-on-one meetings between the two leaders where none of the officials or ministers are present — just the two — with interpreters. 

It is quite possible that this time we may have a special discussion on strengthening and expanding the ambit of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — the most ambitious multi-mode network. 

INSTC is a 7,200-km-long corridor of ship, rail, and road routes for transporting goods between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia. From our western coastline to Astrakhan via Iran, this route saves 40 per cent time in comparison to the conventional route. Modi has also approved India’s accession to the Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under the aegis of the TIR Carnets (TIR Convention). The convention will help Indian traders have access to fast, easy, reliable and hassle-free international systems for movement of goods by road or multi-modal means.

Besides, it is noteworthy that Russia is the biggest contributor and participant in Modi’s most ambitious plan of giving a fillip to higher education, called Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN). Russia has pledged more than 75 top academicians to help GIAN, which again takes the existing dynamic of cooperation to a new level. Modi’s Russia visit is going to be a great milestone and may have a pleasantly surprising element to it — who knows?

The author is a former MP. Views expressed are personal.