Ukraine has recently expressed interest in purchasing military gear from India as part of its efforts to expand its foothold in the Indian defence industry. It aligns with Indian defence reforms and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, which aims to make India self-sufficient in defence manufacture.
Let’s learn more about India Ukraine relations in the article below.
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India Ukraine Relations UPSC
The sale of new weapons, as well as modifications and maintenance of current weapons (R-27 air-to-air missiles) in service with the Indian armed forces, are covered by four agreements totalling USD 70 million. The country recently expressed an interest in selling its AN-178 medium transport aircraft to India.
Under a 2009 agreement, they are currently overhauling the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) AN-32 transport fleet. The country’s team also met with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to examine possible research and development collaborations.
UPSC Preparation Notes
Diplomatic Relations
In December 1991, shortly after the Soviet Union disintegrated, India’s government recognised the Republic of Ukraine as a sovereign independent entity. In May 1992, India established an embassy in Kyiv, and the country created a mission in New Delhi in February 1993. the country and India have cordial relations and cooperate in sectors such as mutual legal assistance, education, and outer space exploration.
Defence Relations
Since India’s independence, they have been a source of military equipment and technology. The R-27 air-to-air missiles used by the IAF on its SU-30MKI jets are made in Ukraine.
India is now supplying weaponry to the country to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. India is Ukraine’s top Asia-Pacific export destination and fifth-largest overall export destination. The majority of Indian exports to the country are pharmaceuticals and medicines.
Culture and Challenges
There are more than 30 Ukrainian cultural associations/groups dedicated to promoting Indian dances around the country. About 18,000 Indian students are studying in the country, mostly in the medical area. Pharmaceuticals, health, IT, education, engineering, and other disciplines employ the majority of Indian business professionals.
The schism between Russia and Ukraine, which erupted into armed conflict when Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, has put India in a difficult position. A Russian news release recently protested to military equipment developed and sold by Russia being overhauled in the country.
Russia has started to protest against clients doing business with the country. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is now partnering with the country to overhaul its fleet of AN-32s, which could cause friction with Russia.
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UPSC Preparation Notes: About Ukraine
Ukraine is an Eastern European country. Kyiv (which is the capital) is situated on the Dnieper River in north-central Ukraine. The country is bordered on the east by Russia, on the south by the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, on the north by Belarus, on the southwest by Romania and Moldova, and the west by Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. The Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, separates Ukraine from Russia in the far southeast.
History and Recent Issues
The country obtained full independence in December 1991, following the disintegration of the USSR (Soviet Union). Ukraine became the nation’s name, and it was instrumental in the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), an alliance of former Soviet Union nations.
Ukraine and Russia have recently clashed over Russia’s control of the Crimean peninsula. Ukraine joined the Partnership Interoperability Initiative of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as an “Enhanced Opportunity Partner” in June 2020. (NATO). Ukraine is also seeking membership in the European Union and NATO, which might stymie efforts to resolve other concerns with Russia.
Factors Affecting India’s Stand
Tensions with China: The possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine coincides with India’s military tensions with China, as well as Delhi’s persistent reliance on Russian military supplies. It also comes at a time when Delhi is attempting to form an international coalition to counter China’s brazen incursions on its Asian neighbours’ territorial sovereignty.
For the time being, Delhi has put itself in a good position by pushing for diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine problem. If Russia invades Ukraine, however, the pressure on India to reconsider its attitude will increase. Any such examination must finally lead to an unbiased assessment of Central Europe’s geopolitics.
While Russia has legitimate security concerns in Central Europe, they can only be met via political compromise. Moscow cannot impose a sphere of influence on its potential members against their choice.
Delhi can’t keep looking at this crucial region through the lens of Russia’s battle with the West indefinitely. It must come to terms with the fact that its strategic importance is expanding.
Conclusion
Central Europeans, while eager to join Western institutions, oppose any attempt by the US or the EU to impose political norms that are incompatible with their indigenous cultures. Central Europeans are ready to establish sub-regional institutions that will help them to strengthen their identity.
One of them is the Visegrad Four, which consists of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. The “Three Seas Initiative” brings together 12 European countries that run in a vertical axis from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic and Black Seas in the south.
Hopefully, the information in this article has provided you with the UPSC preparation information that you were seeking.
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