India launched Operation Sindoor, a military operation in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 people. The operation, involving missile strikes on nine targets, escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, prompting varied international responses. Russia, a long-standing ally of India, adopted a neutral stance, as reported by The New Indian Express, which also noted the broader Global South’s neutrality. The reasons behind Russia’s decision not to actively support India during Operation Sindoor, drawn from historical context, strategic interests, and contemporary reports.
Russia’s neutral stance in the India-Pakistan conflict is rooted in its historical approach to South Asian geopolitics. This historical neutrality is driven by Russia’s need to counterbalance Western and Chinese influence in South Asia. By maintaining good relations with both India and Pakistan, Russia ensures its strategic flexibility and avoids alienating key regional players. The 1965 mediation effort, led by Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin, exemplifies this approach, as it positioned the Soviet Union as a neutral arbiter capable of fostering dialogue between adversaries.
Strategic Interests in South Asia
Russia’s neutral stance during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 aligns with its strategic interests in maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with both India and Pakistan. India has been a significant recipient of Russian military hardware, including the Igla-S air defense missiles delivered before Operation Sindoor and the S-400 systems that proved effective during the conflict (South China Morning Post). Post-Sindoor, India sought additional S-400 units, indicating continued military cooperation (India Today).
However, Russia also engages with Pakistan, as evidenced by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s diplomatic outreach to both nations’ counterparts in the lead-up to and during the Sindoor crisis. Lavrov’s calls with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized restraint and offered Russia’s mediation services (Reuters). This dual engagement reflects Russia’s aim to preserve its influence in South Asia without favoring one side, which could jeopardize its relations with the other.
Russia’s arms supplies to India, while significant, do not necessarily indicate unequivocal support for India’s military actions. The South China Morning Post report suggests that Russia’s provision of Igla-S missiles was part of a broader pattern of arms shipments to both India and Pakistan (via China’s supplies to Pakistan), raising questions about Russia’s neutrality (South China Morning Post). By supplying arms to India while advocating for de-escalation, Russia maintains a delicate balance, ensuring it remains a key player in the region without escalating the conflict.
Contrasting Reports on Russia’s Position
There is some ambiguity in the narrative surrounding Russia’s stance. The New Indian Express article cited by the user claims Russia adopted a neutral stance, with no explicit support for India’s Operation Sindoor, suggesting a diplomatic failure for India. This perspective aligns with reports of Russia’s public calls for restraint and mediation, as seen in the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement expressing “deep concern” over the escalation and urging both nations to avoid further conflict (Moscow Times).
Conversely, a Deccan Herald report indicates that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed “full support” for India in the fight against terrorism during a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 5, 2025, condemning the Pahalgam attack (Deccan Herald). This support, however, appears focused on counter-terrorism rather than an endorsement of India’s military operation. The discrepancy between these reports may reflect Russia’s strategy of privately reassuring India while publicly maintaining neutrality to avoid antagonizing Pakistan.
Global South’s Neutrality and Russia’s Alignment
The New Indian Express article notes that the Global South, alongside Russia, adopted a neutral stance during Operation Sindoor. This collective neutrality likely stems from the Global South’s reluctance to engage in a conflict between two nuclear-armed nations, where escalation could have catastrophic regional and global consequences. Countries in the Global South, many of which prioritize non-alignment, may have viewed Operation Sindoor as a risky escalation, prompting calls for dialogue over military support (Al Jazeera).
Russia’s alignment with this neutral stance could be an effort to maintain solidarity with other Global South nations, reinforcing its role as a leader in non-aligned geopolitics. By advocating for de-escalation and mediation, Russia positions itself as a responsible global actor, distinct from Western powers that may face pressure to take sides. This alignment also allows Russia to avoid the diplomatic fallout of supporting one nuclear power over another, preserving its credibility among developing nations.
Implications for India-Russia Relations
The perceived lack of Russian support, as highlighted by The New Indian Express, may suggest strains in India-Russia relations, particularly if India expected stronger backing given their historical alliance, formalized by the 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation (Al Jazeera). The article’s claim that Russia’s “indifference” exposed weaknesses in India’s foreign policy points to potential frustration in New Delhi, especially as India faced international skepticism about the legality of Operation Sindoor.
However, Russia’s continued military cooperation with India, including the supply of advanced weaponry and India’s post-Sindoor request for additional S-400 systems, indicates that bilateral ties remain strong (India Today). Russia’s neutrality may reflect a pragmatic approach to avoid complicating its regional strategy rather than a diminishment of its partnership with India. The private expression of support, as reported by Deccan Herald, further suggests that Russia values its alliance with India but prioritizes public neutrality to maintain regional stability.
Broader International Context
The international response to Operation Sindoor, as noted in various reports, was largely characterized by calls for restraint and de-escalation. The United States, under President Donald Trump, played a significant role in mediating a ceasefire, announced on May 10, 2025, highlighting the global concern over a potential nuclear conflict (Al Jazeera). The UK, Turkey, and Azerbaijan also urged dialogue, with Turkey condemning India’s strikes as provocative (LiveMint).
Russia’s neutral stance fits within this broader international framework, where major powers and regional actors sought to prevent escalation. By offering mediation and avoiding explicit support for India’s military actions, Russia aligned with the global consensus on de-escalation, reinforcing its role as a diplomatic broker rather than a partisan actor.
Russia’s decision not to actively support India during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 was likely driven by its strategic need to maintain balanced relations with both India and Pakistan, its historical precedent of neutrality in South Asian conflicts, and its alignment with the Global South’s non-aligned stance. While some reports suggest Russia offered private support for India’s counter-terrorism efforts, its public neutrality and calls for mediation reflect a pragmatic approach to preserve regional stability and diplomatic flexibility. The continued military cooperation between Russia and India, including arms supplies and post-Sindoor requests, indicates that the neutral stance did not significantly undermine their bilateral ties. However, the perception of Russia’s “indifference,” as noted by The New Indian Express, may highlight challenges in India’s foreign policy, particularly in securing unequivocal support from traditional allies in high-stakes conflicts.
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