It is generally said that war isn’t beneficial to anyone. If the loss of people’s lives and money isn’t enough, then rebuilding all the infrastructure after the war is an uphill task for both parties. However, if we pay attention, some groups or countries will benefit. One of the greatest beneficiaries is the USA’s arms lobby. Since the Russia-Ukraine war entered its third year, let’s observe how Indian foreign policy played a crucial role to our benefit.
Since our independence, Russia has always stood by us. When the Russia-Ukraine war began, western countries, especially the USA, pressured Bharat to criticize and boycott Russia. The Indian government didn’t yield to any country. Moreover, we bought crude oil with an average discount of $13 per barrel (Al Jazeera, April 18, 2022), refined it, and sold it to various countries, including European countries, which stopped buying directly from Russia. According to Business Insider, Bharat paid $37 billion to Russia just for oil purchases; at the same time, we saved $7.9 billion in FY 23–24 (TOI, April 30, 2024). In this way, Bharat stood by Russia during its distress by buying crude oil and refraining from voting against it at the UN General Assembly.
In addition to that, Bharat refined Russian oil and sold it to different countries, which were impacted by sanctions on Russian oil. Both government companies and private companies are benefiting from these steps. According to the Jamestown Foundation, India also exported 50 Indian food products, which include basics like rice and tea. Similarly, due to Russia’s and Ecuador’s discord, Russia is importing fruits, especially bananas and papaya from Bharat. Because of these steps Bharat’s earning increased exponentially. For example, pharmaceutical products exported to Russia earned $430.59M in the year 2022. ( https://tradingeconomics.com/india/exports/russia)
To wrap up, Bharat is walking on a tightrope. While maintaining cordial relationships with Western countries, Bharat stood by its oldest ally, Russia. This action is also enhancing the reputation of Bharat. The whole world knows that whenever Bharat was in distress, Russia always stood by it. Now, when it is in trouble, Bharat stands by it, and in this process, it is benefiting itself by earning huge revenues from across the globe.