Russia Returns to the Indian Ocean: Exploring the Expanding Strategic Presence

Russia is a major global power and has global interests. In the last few years, Russia has been silently establishing itself as a key stakeholder in the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean Region where it has significant political, economic, military and strategic interests. These four drivers provide us a framework to understand Russia’s activities in the region. Russia has announced that it will establish a military base at Port Sudan in the Red Sea. The base marks the return of Russia to the Indian Ocean. Over the years, Russia has deepened strategic partnerships with key regional states, participated in anti-piracy operations and carried out regular naval exercises. It has been a vocal critic of the concept of the Indo-Pacific. For India, Russia’s growing engagement with the Indian Ocean Region is a complex phenomenon. India and Russia are strategic partners but have divergent views about China, Indo-Pacific and the Quad. It remains to be seen how the war in Ukraine will affect Russia’s presence in the Indian Ocean.