IN this book presenting a survey and interpretation of Indo-Russian economic relations during 1991-2002, the formative period in India’s link with the Russian Federation, the author criticises the tendency to downplay the significance of the post-Soviet entente that took shape between the two countries in 1995-2000 and points to the important strengths that developed in the link that was established during the post-disintegration decade. In stressing his point, there is no attempt made to understate the fact that Russia’s Indian policy bore marks of inconsistencies typical of the country’s foreign policy in general during the period under survey or that the Indo-Russian relations fell prey to the “Western tilt in Russia” at the time.
The book shows that during this period cooperation and trade, even if prone to instability, evolved a domain in private entrepreneurial activity and official interaction. While the challenges were severe, the main actors in Indo-Russian economic relations showed resilience and evolved strategies to deal with them, though the instability of the Russian economy at this time and the behaviour of the bulk of Indian entrepreneurs – who did no establish a proper foothold in the Russian market – portended an uncertain future which is the case today even.
Despite contrary trends in Indo-Russia bilateral relations, Indo-Russian military cooperation was crucial to the relations between the two countries in the immediate post-Cold War period and was pivotal to the military-industrial complex in both the countries.
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