Since 2014, the India-Russia nuclear partnership has evolved against the backdrop of shifting global power dynamics and growing strategic uncertainty. This paper asks: how do systemic pressures and domestic considerations combine to shape the trajectory of this cooperation? It demonstrates how external factors—such as major power rivalries, US-Russia tensions, and Western sanctions—intersect with domestic imperatives, including Indid’s energy security needs as well as Russia’s ambition to consolidate its role as a major nuclear exporter and secure stable markets. The partnership is evident in the Kudankulam project, new agreements to build floating nuclear power plants, joint ventures in third countries and Russia’s support for India’s NSG membership. This is the first part of the article. The second part of this article deals mostly with future plans and prospects of this partnership. The first part appeared in our Winter - 2025 issue.
