Name: India's Nuclear Policy and Shifting Alliances in World Politics
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 5 min 22 s
Description: India's Nuclear Policy and Shifting Alliances in World Politics

Question

The Indo–Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation was a treaty signed between India and the Soviet Union in August 1971 that specified mutual strategic cooperation.

This sounds like joining the Soviet bloc. Can we say that we were non-aligned even after signing this treaty with the Soviet Union?

Accepted Answer

The Indian government, during the Bangladesh Liberation War, signed a friendship treaty with Russia to ensure the non-interference of China in the war. This treaty is known as the Indo- Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation, signed in August $1971$ . India was never completely non-aligned during the Cold War. India was always inclined towards the Soviet Union during the congress period. It borrowed economic plans such as five-year plans from Russia. India also followed the socialist form of governance, which is closer to Russia's ideology of Communism, than America's ideology of capitalism.

But India never allowed direct interference from Russia in Indian politics, and Russia never occupied India or succeeded in establishing a puppet government as it had done in many other nations during the Cold War. Though India was slightly leaning towards Russia in its foreign policy, it never became a puppet of Russia or an outright supporter of the Cold War.

Important Questions on India's External Relations

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