The Hindu Editorial (23th August 2019) – Mains sure Shot

GS-2 Mains Question – With the ‘great power rivalry’ back in international politics, should India take a ‘Far East’ turn to deepen friendship with Russia?Analyze (250 words)

Context – PM’s visit to Vladivostok.

The present scenario:

• We know after the Second World War there were two great powers- USA and Soviet Union. But after the disintegration of the S.U, the United States became the unchallenged superpower. But in the present scenario great power rivalry is back in international.
• This time the prime players are USA and China, though there are other powers involved. This has made global politics more and more unpredictable. With the U.S. increasingly moving towards ‘deglobalisation’ and China is promoting ‘globalisation 2.0 with Chinese characteristics’, India and Russia must increase their areas of cooperation and trade in order to protect themselves against disruptive forces and make their ties sustainable.

The Far East:

• In this context the Far East can play an important role in strengthening their ties.
• At present, the Far East mainly refers to the Asian part of Russia that is less developed than its other parts that lie in the European continent.
• In September Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Vladivostok, a city in Eastern Russia (Far East), as the guest of honour at Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). Here he will announce India’s plans to invest in Russia’s Far East, especially in Vladivostok.
• Vladivostok has a special historical significance for India because when the U.S. and British Navies tried to threaten Indian security during the India-Pakistan war in 1971, the Soviet Union dispatched nuclear-armed flotilla from its Pacific Fleet based at Vladivostok in support of India.
• This is the perfect place to announce India’s plans of investment in Eastern Russia and begin a fresh drive to strengthen their ties.

Significance:

• At present Russia’s relations with the West is not so good and it started mostly after the 2014 Crimean crisis. So, the Russian President Vladamir Putin is trying to build a good relationship with the Asian countries and India is very important for Russia.
• So Russian President Vladimir Putin, as a part of his ‘Pivot to Asia’ policy, is trying to strengthen relations with Asian countries (especially India) by inviting foreign countries to invest in this region. 
• The reasons being- First, is the idea of an ‘Indo-Pacific region’. Russia feels that India is working with the U.S. in the Indi-Pacific region mainly to counter China’s assertive maritime rise in the area, and this closeness with the U.S. has left Russia concerned. Second, Russia is also apprehensive that the U.S. would exert pressure on India’s foreign policy choices and that it could lose a friendly country and one of the biggest buyers of Russian military hardware. Thirdly, Russia also wants to make sure that China does not become a hegemon in the Eurasian region and is hence deepening cooperation with countries like India, Vietnam and Indonesia.
• Here, the Far East has the potential to become an anchor in deepening India-Russia cooperation; more so considering that New Delhi has expanded the scope of its ‘Act East policy’ to also include Moscow.

Need:

1. India needs to understand that too much inclination towards one country like U.S. in this complex great power rivalry can have negative effects. So, it is important that we maintain good relations with other nations as well.
2. While giving importance to the Indo-Pacific and cooperation with the U.S, it also needs to strengthen its ties with Russia.
3. India’s investment initiative in the Far East is a good step. The Far East with its investment-friendly approach and vast reserves of natural resources, has the potential to strengthen India-Russia economic partnership in areas like energy, tourism, agriculture, diamond mining and alternative energy.
4. Also, lack of manpower is one of the main problems faced by the Far East and Indian professionals like doctors, engineers and teachers can help in the region’s development. 
5. Presence of Indian manpower will also help in balancing Russian concerns over Chinese migration into the region. Further, India, one of the largest importers of timber, can find ample resources in the region.
6. Japan and South Korea have also been investing and we may explore areas of joint collaboration.
7. India is also giving due importance to ‘paradiplomacy’ where Indian States are being encouraged to develop relations with foreign countries. States like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana and Goa would be collaborating with Russian Provinces to increase trade and investments.
8. The two countries are also looking at the feasibility of Chennai-Vladivostok sea route that would allow India access to Russia’s Far East in 24 days, compared to the 40 days taken by the current route via Suez Canal and Europe.
9. This route will also potentially add the required balance to peace and prosperity in South China Sea and could open new vistas for India, like the India-Russia-Vietnam trilateral cooperation.

Way ahead:

• As the international situation is becoming more and more unpredictable, we need to diversify our relations with as many countries as possible, so that we can smoothly sail through this gradually developing great power rivalry.