Introductory Memo
In 1992, the United States used the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) to stop Russia from transferring cryogenic rocket engine technology to the Indian Space Research Organisation. The move deeply affected India. Despite being a democracy with a strong non-proliferation record, India was treated as a proliferation risk and excluded from advanced technology networks it had no role in shaping. Three decades later, India is now a full member of the MTCR. It exports supersonic cruise missiles to friendly nations and operates one of Asia’s most diverse missile arsenals. This transformation has become one of the most significant strategic shifts of the 21st century. How did it achieve this? It’s a story to be told.