India–Russia: 2+2 meetings first with a country outside QUAD

GS-2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Key phrases - 2+2, Quad, India-Russia

Why in news-

India held 2+2 meetings with Russia

India now has a 2+2 format dialogue mechanism on strategic and security issues with four of its key strategic partners, Russia being the latest. The three others — Australia, the US and Japan — are also ‘Quad’ partners
2+2 dialogue is held between the foreign and defence ministers of two countries and is generally seen to be aimed at creating a mechanism under which the bilateral relationship takes a decisive strategic turn with greater integration of defence, security and intelligence
It enables both sides to understand each other’s strategic sensitivities more deeply, while taking into account the political nuances of the relationship
2+2 format dialogue, nevertheless, helps in bringing the countries closer and gives out the message of active engagement

Informal, strategic dialogue between USA, Japan, India, Australia
Concert of democracies-with exercises like operation Malabar- It is called diamond of democracies
Stabilizing transition of power in Indo-Pacific - shift from trans-Atlantic to indo pacific with USA’s relative decline and China's growth
A counter to china and its growing unilateralism and assault on maritime security and freedom of navigation

India-Russia 2+2 does have a particularly strong signaling component when seen against the backdrop of the S400 controversy. It can be read as a reminder to Washington that the S400 deal and broader India-Russia defence cooperation will continue
This gives out a strong message to the world that India sees everyone to be on the same level. This is visible messaging
Show that the defence to defence relationship between both countries is robust
Including Russia in indo Pacific region along with USA to allay Russian fears and for a multipolar indo Pacific
Having a 2+2 with Russia also means that India is “not in anyone’s camp” and that bilateral ties between Moscow and New Delhi are “traditional and comprehensive”

Russian support on international forums for India -Example its full support on Kashmir issue and 370
India's involvement in far east Russian development joining league of Korea, China, Japan investment for development by its 1 billion dollars LOC
Shared history of cooperation since cold war era-Russia’s support in 1971 war, Russian help in India's 5 year plans
Energy cooperation-ONGC Videsh has 20 % stakes in Sakhalin oil, several joint projects in Bay of Bengal

Growing reliance of Russia on China due to its conflicts with West and Indias closer partnership with US-Russia joined Chinese BRI- newly launched gas partnership where Russia inaugurated 8k km gas pipeline from Siberia (called power of Siberia) to China
Increasing bonhomie with Pakistan and reports of Russian willingness to sell them arms -opposed by India-Russia has been strong votary of negotiating with Taliban and not given attention to India’s reservations
India’s growing proximity to the United States: Rapidly expanding ties and growing defence relationship between India and US and, India joining quadrilateral group led by the US has led to a strategic shift in Russia’s foreign policy-Russia called quad as Asian NATO.
Trade has been one-dimensional i.e. defence based. The trade in 2017-18 was $10.7 billion, which is far below potential in comparison to India’s trade with China ($89.7 billion), the United States ($74.5 billion

Far East has potential to strengthen indo Russian ties for Russia looks to curb China's influence in region and India expanded scope of act east policy by including Moscow-resource rich region-Sakhalin oil field
Collaboration for Indian investment in the eastern region-oil and gas sector and reduce dependence on gulf-98% of diamonds and 50% gold of world mined here
Leveraging Multilateral Institutions for Improving Relations: Promote mutually beneficial trilateral cooperation between Russia, China and India that could contribute towards the reduction of mistrust and suspicion between India and China.