NEW DELHI: Indo-Russian relations took a serious beating in the aftermath of the sudden disintegration of the Soviet Union. ................................................... Political cooperation between India and Russia has emerged as the dominant feature in our bilateral relations. ......................................
Defence Cooperation
One of the most important elements of Indo-Russian strategic partnership is defence cooperation. Seventy per cent to 85 per cent of our Air Force, Army and Navy are equipped with military hardware of Soviet or Russian origin. The foundation of this relationship was laid during Soviet times but it has entered a new stage in recent years. The buyer-seller relationship in the defence sector, that existed during Soviet times, has reached a new and qualitatively different stage with the thrust of our cooperation expanding to joint research, development, marketin etc. The BrahMos supersonic missile is a brilliant example of such productive cooperation between India and Russia. The fifth generation aircraft, multi-role transport aircraft are another two important projects of joint defence cooperation.
Russia is a power house of high technology which exists mainly in its defence sector. India is the only country with which Russia would like to share its sensitive technology. India should take note of this, and go for productive joint cooperation with Russia in this vital, strategic sector. Experts usually talk about the military-political cooperation between countries. But India and Russia can really talk about the military-economic cooperation that would benefit both countries immensely, first of all our country. Russian technology, resources, India’s IT and investment potential, given the strategic nature of our relationship, can really make this kind of military-economic partnership a huge success. .............................................
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The article was written by Dr Arun Mohanty. He is an Associate Professor, Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is also the Director, Eurasian Foundation.
