India-Russia defence cooperation is among the most stable strategic relations in the modern day. Defence cooperation since the signing of the Declaration on the India–Russia Strategic Partnership in 2000 has extended beyond the conventional business-to-business model and has grown into a multidimensional partnership with the integration of defence diplomacy, joint military exercises, co-production, technology transfer, research and development, and strategic dialogue. Although India has been moving towards a diversified defence procurement policy, Russia still remains its key defence partner, owing to decades of institutional trust, interoperability of military platforms, and readiness to impart advanced defence technologies. However, in the twenty-first century, the partnership has faced many challenges due to the changing geopolitical landscape, India's increasing strategic ties with the West, the rise of China's military prowess and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This paper discusses the history of Indian-Russian defence cooperation from the year 2000 onwards using the lens of defence diplomacy. It states that defence trade has been increasingly diversified, but defence diplomacy has enhanced the trust and stability in the region. It concludes that cooperation in the field of defence production, technological development and strategic coordination will play a decisive role in shaping the course of the India–Russia strategic partnership.
Defence Diplomacy, Strategic Partnership, Defence Cooperation, Military Technology, Foreign Policy, Strategic Autonomy.
Alya Farooq. Defence Diplomacy and Strategic Partnership: Assessing India–Russia Defence Cooperation Since 2000. Indian Journal of Modern Research and Reviews. 2026; 4(1):289-294
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