Write an essay for or against the following proposition: “With the disintegration of the second world, India should change its foreign policy and focus more on friendship with the US rather than with traditional friends like Russia”.
The disintegration of the second world marked a significant shift in global politics. However, India should not abandon its traditional friendship with Russia in favor of the US.
During the Cold War era, India and the USSR enjoyed a special multi-dimensional relationship. The Soviet Union supported India's position on Kashmir in the UN and during the 1971 war with Pakistan. It provided economic assistance for public sector companies like Bhilai, Bokaro, and Visakhapatnam steel plants when such aid was difficult to obtain from other countries.
India continues to benefit from its relationship with Russia on issues like Kashmir, energy supplies, and sharing information on international terrorism. The Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement of 2001 saw more than 80 bilateral agreements being signed between the two countries, demonstrating the enduring partnership.
Militarily, India received most of its military hardware from the Soviet Union when few other countries were willing to share military technologies. The Soviet Union entered into agreements allowing India to jointly produce military equipment, building long-term defence cooperation.
Therefore, while engaging with the US is important in the changed world order, India should maintain and strengthen its traditional friendship with Russia rather than abandoning it completely.
Explanation
This essay argues AGAINST the proposition using evidence from the textbook context. The context highlights the multi-dimensional relationship between India and USSR (economic, political, military, cultural) and mentions that India continues to benefit from Russia on Kashmir, energy supplies, and terrorism information. The Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement of 2001 with 80+ bilateral agreements shows the relationship remains strong even after Soviet disintegration.