International Arctic: Prospects for Cooperation between India and Russia in the Arctic
Investing in development
18 march 2024India views Russia as its sole potential partner in the Arctic region. Lt. Gen. G.A.V. Reddy and Maj. Gen. Ajay Sadh, representing the Synergy Foundation, discussed this in an interview with Natalia Vyakhireva, program manager of the Russian International Affairs Council. "We only want to cooperate with Russia, no one else," the G.A.V. Reddy, emphasizing that India-Russia ties are unmatched by any other country.
According to Indian representatives, India is currently ready to participate in a wide range of activities related to infrastructure development, mining, and logistics. The international North-South transport corridor, stretching 7200 km from St. Petersburg to the port of Mumbai, holds great potential for transporting goods from India and the Middle East, attracting their products to the domestic market and potentially to the European region. G.A.V. Reddy emphasized that India is interested in expanding the number of potential routes for the direct delivery of Russian goods, including through the Arctic.
India is particularly interested in the minerals abundant in the Russian Arctic Circle. Indian companies and the government are not only ready to increase imports of oil, gas, lithium, and other necessary resources, but also to participate in the exploration of deposits, their development, and the advancement of specialized technologies. Russian diplomats have repeatedly expressed positive feedback on the experience of involving Indian companies in Russian energy projects in the AZRF. The Indian generals particularly noted that India has numerous highly qualified specialists who are ready to contribute their full range of competencies, accumulated experience, and technologies to the Russian industry. Participation in the creation of non-military infrastructure is also an important and promising direction for India to expand the partnership. This includes road construction, power generation, service industries, and the implementation of projects aimed at improving the quality of life for the population. Last year, the Indian company SAFFARM became a resident of the AZRF and is constructing a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the Murmansk region. Investments are estimated at around RUB 10 bn, with the creation of approximately 280 jobs, and a projected annual production of 1.3 bn medicinal units.
Following Russia's shift in policy towards finding partners for Arctic development outside of the Arctic Council member states, India has emerged as a highly promising "ally". The Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East notes that years of collaboration have culminated in a privileged strategic partnership, grounded in mutual trust and shared socio-economic interests.
"Cooperation is expanding across all sectors and directions, with a focus on industrial collaboration, trade relations, and investment. Indian companies are making substantial investments in energy, natural resources, and diamond mining," Igor Nosov, the Director General of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, noted in his speech two years ago.
Today, this trend is even more apparent, and both countries are exploring ways to foster closer collaboration. The Synergy Foundation in India is a think tank organization that advocates for India's involvement in Arctic exploration.
A shared focus on environmental conservation is a distinct point of agreement between Russian and Indian perspectives on the Polar Regions.
G.A.V. Reddy emphasized that India seeks to collaborate with like-minded countries in the region that have a clear vision for Arctic conservation. He stated that preserving the delicate Arctic ecosystem amidst climate change can only be achieved through the collective efforts of numerous countries committed to maintaining ecological balance.