The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as their Western Bloc allies, following World War II. India followed the principle of Non-Alignment after the second world war. Therefore it maintained a friendly partnership with both US and USSR without joining either block. This article focuses on India's relationship with both the USA and USSR during the cold war era. Candidates preparing for UPSC can look into this article to learn about the cold war and the relationship of India with the USA and USSR.

What is Cold War?

• Following World War II, the Cold War was a period (1945-1991) of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and its satellite governments (the Eastern European countries) and the US and its allies (the Western European countries).
• Because there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two sides, the name "Cold" was coined.
• During World War Allied countries (the US, UK, and France) and the Soviet Union fought together against the Axis powers but this alliance did not work out.

India and USA during the cold war

• India and the United States established diplomatic relations in November 1941, six years before our independence. In the United States, there was a lot of support for India's independence.
• However, the relationship between India and the United States did not live up to its full potential during the cold war era.
• This was due to the US's preoccupation with 'Communism containment,' which sparked the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union.
• Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, refused to be dragged into the Cold War politics of competitive military alliances espoused by both superpowers.
• Nehru chose the 'Non-alignment' doctrine, which aimed to offer India much-needed freedom of action in foreign policy and relations.
• India's refusal to collaborate was viewed by the United States as a show of unfriendliness.
• In 1954, the Indo-US relations suffered a major setback when the US formed two military organizations, SEATO and CENTO, with Pakistan as one of its crucial members.
• Despite earlier guarantees, US military assistance to Pakistan was utilized against India to combat the spread of communism.
• The war between India and China in October 1962 added a new dimension to Indo-US relations. As China's aggression increased, the Indian government urgently appealed military assets to Washington (US).
• With a quick response, US President John F. Kennedy made India available with small weapons and equipment. Even before the agreement was signed between the two countries, the first batch of weapons arrived. In addition, the United States has agreed to receive payment in rupee.
• The United States Congress approved Public Law 480 (PL 480) in 1954, allowing surplus American wheat to be sold to India. PL 480 allowed India to continue receiving foodgrains from the US into the early 1970s.
• But when the United States did not want to openly blame Pakistan for launching a war with India in 1965, India's pro-US goodwill disappeared.
• In addition to US support for Pakistan, the US war against Vietnam in the 1960s brought some chills to India-US relations.
• In the early 1970s, the reconciliation between the United States and China (with the support of Pakistan) was another turning point.
• The Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) has sparked a fresh crisis in the Indo-US relationship. During the Bangladesh conflict, the United States halted all economic assistance to India. However, after a long hiatus, bilateral support resumed in 1978.
• The United States took some time (a few years) to recognize India as a prominent country in the South Asian region.
• In 1977, India hosted President Jimmy Carter in a spirit of healing. However, another blow was delivered. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 pitted India and the United States against each other.

India & USSR during the cold war

• A number of shared reasons underpinned India's and the Soviet Union's relationship.
• After India gained independence from the British, the Soviet Union's anti-imperialism philosophy compared favourably that is why there was scepticism and, in some cases, the outright rejection of Western-inspired anxieties about Soviet aims and objectives in India.
• Following the visit to India in 1955 by the Soviet Communist Party's leader, the political ties began to improve considerably.
• At the UN Security Council, the Soviet Union backed India's position on Kashmir and vetoed an unpopular resolution sponsored by Western countries.
• The Soviet Union increased its financial and technical assistance to India in the late 1950s.
• One of India's groundbreaking agreements with the Soviet Union in February 1955 was to set up a steel plant in Bhilai.
• The provision of military assistance to India became a prominent symbol of Indo-Soviet collaboration. Despite Chinese protests, the MiG (fighter aircraft) agreement was signed in1962, before the India-China war.
• Following the 1965 conflict, the Soviet Union convened a conference of Indian and Pakistani leaders at Tashkent in January 1966.
• In August 1971, the Soviet and Indian authorities signed the historic Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation which was India's first of its kind.
• The rise to power of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 signalled a fundamental shift in Soviet foreign policy. The focus shifted to the significance of maintaining positive relations with the US and the West.
• His efforts to create a "Common European Home" diminished the importance of developing countries such as India. As a result of this, and the Soviet/Russian rapprochement with China, Indo-Soviet relations suffered a brief decline.

Conclusion

During the Cold War, India was neither antagonistic nor passive toward the United States and the Soviet Union. Despite being a founding member of the NAM, India advocated for active intervention in world events to ease Cold War tensions. India's answer to the cold ear was twofold: it kept itself out of the two alliances on the one hand, and it raised its voice against newly decolonized countries joining the coalitions on the other. India attempted to minimize disputes in order to avoid them from growing into a conflict. Nehru, the Indian prime minister, believed in a genuine commonwealth of free and cooperative states that would work to ease, if not end, the conflict. This stance of India toward the United States and the Soviet Union aided India in making foreign decisions.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Analyze the role of India's non-alignment policy in shaping its relations with the USA and USSR during the Cold War.

Answer: India's non-alignment policy, articulated by Jawaharlal Nehru, was central to its foreign relations during the Cold War. By not formally aligning with either the USA or the USSR, India aimed to preserve its sovereignty and act independently on the global stage.
This policy allowed India to receive economic and military assistance from both superpowers without becoming a satellite state. India’s non-alignment also gave it the moral authority to mediate in international conflicts, such as the Korean War. However, India’s policy was not without challenges. Relations with the USA were often strained due to India’s criticism of US actions in Vietnam and its support for Pakistan during conflicts with India. On the other hand, India’s relationship with the USSR was strengthened, particularly after the Indo-Pak War of 1971, when India signed a Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation with the Soviet Union. Overall, non-alignment allowed India to navigate Cold War geopolitics, but it leaned more towards the USSR after 1971.

Q2. Evaluate the economic and military assistance provided by the USSR to India during the Cold War.

Answer: The USSR played a pivotal role in India's economic and military development during the Cold War. Economically, the Soviet Union assisted India’s industrialization by providing technical expertise and financial aid for key projects like the Bhilai Steel Plant, Bokaro Steel Plant, and oil exploration in Assam. These projects were part of India’s Five-Year Plans, helping the country achieve self-sufficiency in industrial production.
Militarily, the USSR became India’s primary supplier of defense equipment, including aircraft, tanks, and missiles. The Soviet Union’s support was critical during the Indo-Pak Wars, especially in 1971, when the USSR provided diplomatic backing and defense supplies. The MiG fighter jets and T-72 tanks supplied by the USSR became central to India’s defense strategy. This cooperation solidified India’s military capabilities and allowed it to maintain a balance of power in the region, particularly against Pakistan and China. Thus, Soviet assistance was instrumental in shaping India’s industrial and defense infrastructure during the Cold War.

Q3. How did the Indo-Pak War of 1971 impact India’s relations with the USA and the USSR?

Answer: The Indo-Pak War of 1971 was a turning point in India's relationships with both the USA and the USSR. During the war, the USA supported Pakistan, which strained its relations with India. The USA’s Seventh Fleet was sent to the Bay of Bengal as a show of force, signaling Washington’s disapproval of India’s military actions in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
In contrast, the USSR played a crucial role in supporting India, both diplomatically and militarily. India and the USSR had signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation just before the war, ensuring Soviet backing in case of external aggression. The Soviet Union also provided military supplies and blocked hostile resolutions against India at the United Nations. This war further solidified India’s tilt towards the USSR, marking a strategic realignment in India's foreign policy. The USA’s support for Pakistan during the conflict created a deep mistrust between India and the USA, which persisted until the end of the Cold War.

Previous Year Questions on  India’s relations with USA and USSR during cold war

1. UPSC CSE Mains 2019

Question. Examine how the Cold War influenced India's foreign policy choices with regard to the USA and USSR.

Answer: The Cold War had a profound impact on India’s foreign policy, particularly in its dealings with the USA and the USSR. India’s policy of non-alignment allowed it to maintain autonomy in foreign relations, but global geopolitics pushed India closer to the USSR over time.
Initially, India sought to remain neutral, but tensions with China and Pakistan forced India to seek Soviet support, especially after the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The USA’s close relationship with Pakistan also alienated India, further strengthening India’s ties with the Soviet Union. The Indo-Pak War of 1971 marked a watershed moment when India openly sided with the USSR, signing the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation. This strategic partnership with the USSR lasted through the Cold War and provided India with crucial military and economic assistance. Despite its tilt towards the USSR, India maintained diplomatic relations with the USA and sought to leverage its non-aligned status to mediate international conflicts and promote global peace.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020

Question. How did India's non-alignment policy affect its diplomatic relations with both the USA and USSR during the Cold War?

Answer: India's non-alignment policy, adopted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, aimed to maintain independence in foreign affairs by not formally aligning with either of the two Cold War superpowers, the USA or the USSR. This policy allowed India to engage diplomatically with both countries while promoting peace and anti-colonialism on the global stage.
Initially, India had relatively balanced relations with both the USA and the USSR, but several factors contributed to a gradual shift towards the Soviet Union. Tensions with Pakistan, the Indo-China War of 1962, and American support for Pakistan during conflicts in the 1960s and 1970s strained India-USA relations. On the other hand, the USSR's diplomatic and military support, particularly during the Indo-Pak War of 1971, solidified India’s partnership with the Soviet Union. Despite this tilt, India continued to champion non-alignment, maintaining economic and diplomatic relations with both superpowers, which allowed it to play a mediating role in international affairs.