India’s Shift to Russia–China Axis Damages Its Democratic, Economic Interests

India Strengthens Ties with Authoritarian Bloc

By Vishal Arora

August 21, 2025

India is moving closer to Russia and China, stepping away from its partnerships with Western democracies. This new direction weakens its position in global trade, technology and democratic cooperation, pulling India toward authoritarian governments and brings economic punishment and fewer reliable international ties.

India has increased its imports of Russian oil to 35 percent of its total intake, up from just 0.2 percent before the war in Ukraine. This is despite strong warnings from the United States, which announced that from Aug. 27, Indian goods entering the U.S. will be subject to an extra 25 percent tariff. The move is a response to India’s refusal to stop buying Russian oil, which Russia sells to India at a 5 to 7 percent discount.

Russian officials have confirmed that oil and gas supplies will continue, and have begun accepting payments in Indian rupees after resolving earlier currency issues, as reported by Reuters. Russia also intends to expand energy cooperation to include liquefied natural gas and nuclear power.

Trade talks between India and the United States have collapsed, mainly due to disagreements over American access to India’s dairy and agricultural markets, and India’s increasing energy ties with Russia. The total tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S. now amount to 50 percent.

In parallel, Russia is trying to revive a trilateral political partnership involving India and China, according to the newswire. Moscow calls it the “greater Eurasian partnership.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit China soon for the first time in seven years, and Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to New Delhi later this year. All three leaders will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit starting on Aug. 31.

To understand what this new direction means, we need to look at how global alliances influence a country’s economy, security and political identity.

Since the end of the Cold War, much of the world has gathered into two main groups. One consists of liberal democracies like the United States, countries in the European Union, Japan, Australia and others.

These countries support rules that limit state power, protect freedom of expression and promote transparent governance. Their alliances focus on defence and trade, and also support cooperation in areas like education, health, clean energy and technology. Countries that align with this bloc typically benefit from technology transfers, open access to research and strong consumer markets.

The other group is led by authoritarian states like Russia and China. It also includes countries such as Iran, Belarus, North Korea and, in some contexts, Venezuela. These governments usually keep power in the hands of a few people, control the media, limit free speech and restrict political opposition.

Their alliances are based on mutual interests in resisting Western influence, keeping domestic control and avoiding accountability for human rights violations. Countries that enter this bloc often trade short-term benefits, such as cheap energy or arms deals, for long-term limitations in innovation, financial access and political independence.

India’s democratic values and its Constitution are closer to the first group. India has benefited from partnerships with the United States, Japan and Europe in areas like software exports, clean technology, defence production and higher education.

These countries have supported India’s rise as a responsible power and a member of the Quad, a regional grouping formed to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific. Their investments have helped Indian firms compete globally, and their cooperation has bolstered India’s strategic credibility.

By turning towards Russia and China, India risks weakening those ties. Russia has become internationally isolated after its invasion of Ukraine. China’s actions in the South China Sea, its surveillance state, and its aggression on the Indian border have raised concerns worldwide.

Aligning with them sends a message that India is willing to accept repression and expansionism as part of its strategic equation. This damages India’s image as a democratic leader in the Global South and undermines its ability to support political freedom abroad.

India also risks being excluded from next-generation tech collaborations in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and green energy. These fields are dominated by the U.S. and its partners, not by Russia or China. Dependency on Russian fossil fuels and arms also gives Moscow leverage over Indian decisions, limiting flexibility in global forums.

At the political level, trilateral cooperation with Russia and China undermines India’s autonomy. Despite efforts to mend ties, India and China remain locked in border tensions, with regular military stand-offs and infrastructure competition along the Line of Actual Control. Entering a framework in which China holds greater economic and military power leaves India with less room to assert its interests. It also creates confusion about India’s foreign policy principles, as India finds itself in groupings that shield countries with poor records on civil liberties and aggression.

It must be acknowledged that Western democracies also pursue their own strategic interests and have been accused of human rights violations, backing authoritarian governments and maintaining global dominance. Today, Israel’s military actions in Gaza under the cover of fighting Hamas have raised serious concerns, including violations of international law and immense civilian suffering. These failings cannot be overlooked. Yet there is a difference. Western countries still speak the language of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and they promote values that allow space for criticism and change.

Aligning with them keeps India closer to systems that recognise freedom, pluralism and accountability, which are central to its own Constitution. This makes Western partnerships, despite their flaws, more consistent with India’s long-term interests and identity than joining a bloc led by authoritarian powers.

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