The Soviet Union's Decision-Making Process to Provide Naval Aid to India during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

• In Event: Soviet Global Engagements: Alliances, Aid, and Strategy in the Cold War

Abstract

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Soviet Union deployed naval forces to the Indian Ocean, demonstrating support for India amid heightened Cold War tensions. Although these warships did not engage in combat, their presence countered US naval movements in the region, demonstrating how superpowers used military assistance to influence conflicts in the Third World. This paper examines the Soviet decision-making process behind this deployment, analyzing the competing roles of different Soviet centers of power. Using newly declassified archival documents, memoirs, and other sources, this study shows how strategic and ideological considerations shaped Soviet military assistance. The findings contribute to broader debates about Cold War geopolitics and offer insights into contemporary Russian foreign policy in the Global South.

Author

• Alexey Chernyavskiy, U of Houston