Indo-Russian Relations under the Putin Administration

This article examines a specific problem that is important to the beginnings and fate of triangular cooperation—the development of Russian foreign policy towards India during the Putin administration and the nature of Indo-Russian cooperation. It presents a perspective on why the consolidation of presidential authority in Russia has made a difference to cooperation—drawing on the foundations of such cooperation in policy assumptions and institutions of the Yeltsin era. It also examines an assumption prevalent among policymakers—that a close umbilical cord exists between Moscow and New Delhi that has been consolidated despite the changing weather of international politics. It draws into the discussion factors of mutability and private initiative, suggesting that these exert various pulls on the relationship—the Indo-Russian cooperative relationship dominated by an authoritative Presidency working by democratic rules exists in a fast changing environment. If defence and energy issues have consolidated cooperation, the links between the two economies now figure actors who have little to do with government. And the failure of government to involve these actors in cooperation has been a limitation of the relationship.