The recent news announces that India has resolved to dispatch a troop of 75 individuals from its three armed forces to partake in Russia’s 75th World War II Victory Day Parade on 24 June, 2020.
Annual Russian Parade Details
Every year on Victory Day (May 9), the Russian parade takes place to commemorate Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945. However, this year, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the event was postponed. The victory day parade pays tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by the Russians and allied forces during World War II. This year, India will be participating in the event, displaying solidarity with Russia.
Recent Invitation and India-Russia Defense Cooperation
In January 2020, Russia extended an invitation to India to participate in their victory day parade. The defense sector remains a key aspect of the bilateral relations between the two nations. Both countries are encouraging joint manufacturing under India’s Make-in-India programme and technology transfer.
After the Vladivostok summit in 2019, India and Russia acknowledged the need for an institutional arrangement for reciprocal logistic support and services for the armed forces. Consequently, they agreed to prepare a cooperation framework.
5th India Russia Military Industry Conference
During the 5th India Russia military industry conference held at Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), companies from both nations inked several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to develop various defense equipment.
Even amid potential U.S. sanctions, India proceeded with the purchase of the S-400 missile defense system in 2019, worth over $5 billion. Both nations continue to foster military to military cooperation through military political dialogue and joint military exercises.
Joint Exercise INDRA and Other Collaborations
In 2019, India and Russia orchestrated a second joint tri-service exercise known as INDRA. That same year, India participated in Exercise TSENTR 2019 of the Russian Armed Force. Despite Russia’s deep-seated military and political ties with China, and its relations with the U.S., India continues to view Russia as a principal ally.
World War II: Overview
World War II began in Europe in 1939 and eventually escalated to a global conflict. It was waged between the Allied and Axis powers with Great Britain, USA, France representing the Allies and Germany, Italy and Japan representing the Axis. This war had profound implications on a global scale and terminated in September 1945.
Causes and Consequences of WWII
Several factors contributed to the onset of World War II such as the Treaty of Versailles of 1920, expansionist policies by fascist powers, appeasement policy by Western powers towards fascist powers, and the rise of Japan as an imperialist power.
The war had several repercussions including the mass extermination of Jews in concentration camps, atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, division of the world into two power blocs; Communist Bloc led by Soviet Union and Western Bloc led by USA, commencing the Cold War that lasted until 1991, and the establishment of the United Nations Organisation in 1945.
