India-Soviet Union (Russia) Relations with Special Reference to the Cold War

This relationship has its roots on the one hand in the struggle against Western imperialism and colonialism and on the other in the national interests and requirements of India in the last twenty to thirty years. The struggle against imperialism made the Soviets an almost inevitable supporter of the newly emerging countries of the world; by the same token there was skepticism and often rejection of Western-inspired fears about Soviet designs and objectives. This aspect can be summed up best in Jawaharlal’s words written as early as 1929.The international situation changed radically since then and the rivalry between England and Russia was substituted by that between USA and the Soviet Union, but there were two elements of continuity in Nehru’s perception, skepticism about fears spread by the West about Soviet Union. This perception was strengthened by Moscow’s vigorous espousal of the causes that were dearest to the emerging countries of the world and was particularly reinforced by its support to India on vital national issues.