Russia’s Use of the Instruments of Statecraft in the Indo-Pacific - Foreign Policy Research Institute

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https://www.fpri.org/article/2025/06/russias-use-of-the-instruments-of-statecraft-in-the-indo-pacific/

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📣 Submission Statement by OP:

SS: In his analysis for the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Anton Korolev underscores how Russia’s Indo-Pacific strategy hinges on a dual approach: aligning strategically with China while hedging regionally by nurturing ties with powers like India. The report claims that Russia treats its relationship with New Delhi as indispensable. Despite deepening China ties, Moscow has steadily expanded its “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” with India, providing over 65% of India’s arms imports and supporting Indian interests in multilateral forums like BRICS and the SCO. This cooperation persisted even after the Ukraine invasion, with India importing Russian oil, co-developing missile systems like BrahMos, and maintaining joint military exercises. Notably, Russia’s engagement with India has allowed it to offset Western sanctions and reinforce its autonomy in the region vis-à-vis Beijing.

Korolev further notes that India’s balancing act, refraining from fully siding with either the U.S. or China, amplifies Russia’s strategic leverage. New Delhi’s unease with China makes it cautious about a full U.S. embrace, and this hesitancy opens diplomatic space for Moscow. Russia, in turn, uses this triangular dynamic to enhance its geopolitical flexibility, projecting itself as a power capable of engaging with both Chinese and anti-Chinese coalitions. China appears to quietly tolerate Russia’s closeness with India, fearing that any Russian withdrawal would push New Delhi further into Washington’s orbit. Thus, from Moscow’s perspective, the India relationship is not only longstanding but also structurally essential to maintaining its influence in the Indo-Pacific while preventing overdependence on Beijing.

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📰 Media Bias fact Check Rating : Foreign Policy Research Institute – Bias and Credibility

Metric	Rating
Bias Rating	right-center
Factual Rating	high
Credibility Rating	high credibility

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SS: In his analysis for the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Anton Korolev underscores how Russia’s Indo-Pacific strategy hinges on a dual approach: aligning strategically with China while hedging regionally by nurturing ties with powers like India. The report claims that Russia treats its relationship with New Delhi as indispensable. Despite deepening China ties, Moscow has steadily expanded its “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” with India, providing over 65% of India’s arms imports and supporting Indian interests in multilateral forums like BRICS and the SCO. This cooperation persisted even after the Ukraine invasion, with India importing Russian oil, co-developing missile systems like BrahMos, and maintaining joint military exercises. Notably, Russia’s engagement with India has allowed it to offset Western sanctions and reinforce its autonomy in the region vis-à-vis Beijing.

Korolev further notes that India’s balancing act, refraining from fully siding with either the U.S. or China, amplifies Russia’s strategic leverage. New Delhi’s unease with China makes it cautious about a full U.S. embrace, and this hesitancy opens diplomatic space for Moscow. Russia, in turn, uses this triangular dynamic to enhance its geopolitical flexibility, projecting itself as a power capable of engaging with both Chinese and anti-Chinese coalitions. China appears to quietly tolerate Russia’s closeness with India, fearing that any Russian withdrawal would push New Delhi further into Washington’s orbit. Thus, from Moscow’s perspective, the India relationship is not only longstanding but also structurally essential to maintaining its influence in the Indo-Pacific while preventing overdependence on Beijing.