Smita Purushottam

Ukraine’s Flirtation with China and Russia’s Quest for a Eurasian Union

Ukraine has resisted Russian attempts to draw it into a closer political and economic embrace and has instead explored a closer association with the EU, NATO and even China. Recent developments indicate a turnaround in the Ukrainian attitude and may portend a closer relationship with Russia and the CIS states.

Published: November 04, 2011
Issue Brief

Russia’s Growing Engagement with Pakistan

The Summit was part of Russia’s ongoing initiatives to play a greater role in stabilising the region before the expected withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

Published: May 23, 2011
IDSA Comments

President Medvedev’s Visit to India: Fresh Directions for Indo-Russian Partnership in the 21st Century

India and Russia should look at a hi-tech partnership for the 21st century in new areas of the civilian economy.

Published: December 20, 2010
IDSA Comments

Russia and Japan Clash over the Kuriles in the North Pacific

The clash between Russia and Japan over the Southern Kurils in the North Pacific highlight Russia’s emerging role in the Asia Pacific Region and its relations with China and Japan.

Published: November 03, 2010
Special Feature

The Sochi Summit: Fresh Moves on The Grand Eurasian Chessboard

At their second Summit in Sochi on August 18, 2010, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan agreed to reinforce their cooperation. The United States has supported the Russian initiative due to its own compulsions and the China factor. India needs to pursue a well considered “Eurasian Heartland” policy in the context of these developments.

Published: August 27, 2010
Issue Brief

A Growing Technological Gap with China?

The drivers for sustaining the decades-long growth of the Chinese economy are the subject of enduring conjecture, controversy and even wonder. From a US$1 trillion economy in the 1980s, China's GDP has crossed the US$4 trillion mark and is vying with Japan for the status of the number two economy in the world. China has now set itself the task of becoming a major research and development (R&D) power in the medium-term, signalling its ‘arrival’ as a major power.

Published: July 2010
Strategic Analysis

Economic Crises, Currencies and Geopolitical Turning Points

The serial financial crises have exposed deep fault lines in the international financial system, and have prompted a search for a better and more stable global financial structure.