India sides with the Russians on Crimea

[mota bhai 2,675]

India’s support for Russia during the Crimea crisis should be a wake-up call for Washington

By Andrew J. Stravers and Peter Harris

March 24, 2014

In the wake of the Vladimir Putin’s incursion into Crimea, almost every member of the international community voiced concern over Russia’s actions ... For the most part, support for Russia has been confined to the predictable incendiaries: Cuba, Venezuela and Syria, for example. Yet there is one unusual suspect among those lining up behind Putin that requires further investigation: India.

...

New Delhi’s enunciation of respect for Russia’s “legitimate interests” in Crimea is a surprising blow to the prevailing U.S. policy of reaching out to India ... India’s support for Russia’s revisionism in Crimea ... is something that should trouble U.S. policymakers.

...

Amid all the talk of a renewed Cold War in Europe it has been forgotten that, for India, Cold War international relations never truly ended. In particular, the Indo-Russian relationship remains an important mainstay of Indian grand strategy – a hangover from that bygone era.

...

India and Russia maintain deep cooperation on political, military and economic dimensions. Russian trade with India rivals the latter’s trade with the United States, and Indian companies have made huge investments in Russian energy firms and energy projects in the Bay of Bengal. In addition, the two nations are developing a southern route from Russia to the Arabian Sea that will increase Russian trade in the whole of the Indian Ocean region.

Russia still provides India’s military with more than 70 percent of its weapons systems and armaments and the two are currently cooperating in the development of cruise missile systems, strike fighters and transport aircraft. Russia is one of only two countries in the world that have annual ministerial-level defense reviews with India. The two cooperate on the advancement of a space program and they have bilateral nuclear agreement worth potentially tens of billions of dollars.

...

The Indian people have never fully lost their suspicion of Western powers and creeping colonialism. American policymakers may have been overly naïve in thinking that economic growth, increased trade and a nuclear deal could move India safely into the American camp. Perhaps it is true that India will never cement itself on China’s side, but the fact is that nothing has been done to erase the deep Indo-Russian ties that formed during decades of Cold War.

...

There is no doubt that India will remain a prominent player in the decades ahead. India occupies a crucial geostrategic location between a rising China, the energy producing regions of the Middle East and a newly vigorous African economy. An expanding Indian navy featuring 150 ships and multiple aircraft carriers will possess the capability to exercise veto power over key shipping choke points in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Malacca, and Suez region.

...

It should greatly concern the American foreign policy establishment that, at a moment when international norms are under assault by Moscow, India has chosen to throw its lot in with Russia. How strong can a norm of territorial integrity be without the world’s largest nation and the world’s largest democracy? How stable can the American-led global order be with such a prominent repudiation of American foreign policy preferences? The answer to both of these questions is, unfortunately, “not very.”

...

Simply because India is a democracy does not mean that it will automatically align itself to American preferences, and the United States must make a concerted effort to win India’s favor and goodwill in a lasting way. Until now, closeness with India has been compromised by competing demands to remain faithful to Pakistan, America’s own Cold War-era ally. Indeed, Russia’s historic support for Indian claims over Kashmir (sometimes explicit, sometimes implicit) has been no small part of Moscow’s appeal to New Delhi. Sooner or later, a new balance must be struck between U.S. commitments to these two nations. While Pakistan is integral to regional security, India’s cooperation will be essential to sustain the American vision of global governance.

Edited March 24, 2014 by mota bhai

[BatmanUSA 105]

I read some interesting articles from CNN and BBC.. India and China are siding with Russia on this issue.

The economic sanctions proposed by the EU and the US will probably hurt them more than Russia. It will increase trading between Russia, India, China, Brazil, and Venezuela, who have previously formed their own trading pact.

Also it seems that President Karzi in Afghanistan has decided to recognize Crimea as part of Russia...

[deleted-05292014 331]

I didn't read the whole article but I can give you one word based on what I know : OIL

Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

[mota bhai 2,675]

I didn't read the whole article but I can give you one word based on what I know : OIL

Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

You miss salient points when you don't read.

Russia still provides India’s military with more than 70 percent of its weapons systems and armaments.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

To think I just had coffee at the 7-11 and my Indian doctor thinks he knows English better than me?

[deleted-05292014 331]

You miss salient points when you don't read.

Russia still provides Indias military with more than 70 percent of its weapons systems and armaments.

Yeah I know I just read it. That was my first reaction when I read the title. Same goes for China.

Not to stray too off topic but it's the US own fault. China has been steadily investing all over the world especially in the Caribbean and Africa. Mostly infrastructure projects based

on low interest loans.

[mota bhai 2,675]

... it's the US own fault. China has been steadily investing all over the world especially in the Caribbean and Africa. Mostly infrastructure projects based

on low interest loans.

So the Indians sided with the Russians on Crimea because China has been investing in the Caribbean and Africa?

What?

[deleted-05292014 331]

So the Indians sided with the Russians on Crimea because China has been investing in the Caribbean and Africa?

What?

No because of oil..... I'm drawing a correlation between foreign policy interests and just stating that maybe down the road bc we have let China corner the market figuratively speaking, we may find ourselves (the US) at similar odds with other world powers when it comes to different parts of the world.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Got it.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Crimea belonged to Russia historically, and more or less always has, even after "giving it" to Ukraine. europe and Obama want to get their panties in a wad over a loser non-issue, WGAFF.

[BatmanUSA 105]

Yes Crimea was part of Russia, then the Soviet Union gave it to Ukraine and it was overlooked when the Soviet Union dissolved.. I guess no one ever imagined that Ukraine would be a possible addition to NATO...

Over the past 10 years, Crimea has asked for a vote to become independent/join Russia but the Ukraine government would never allow that vote..

Then NATO saw an opportunity to get into Ukraine. A faction of people overthrew the legitimate government in Ukraine and put in, without elections, a pro-western regime... That regime immediately issued orders against the Crimea-Russians. Those Crimea's asked Russia for help.. Which they received..

So, it kinda looks like Russia invaded Ukraine, but when you know more of the story and the facts and the history, Russia was invited by the people of Crimea to take the actions they did. However western propaganda explains things in a different way, but they obviously choose to not report certain facts...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I think this reveals India's secret aspirations.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Maybe US should reduce India's H1B visa in return.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Maybe US should reduce India's H1B visa in return.

If they could just get rid of the fraudulent ones I'd be happy.

[deleted-05292014 331]

Maybe US should reduce India's H1B visa in return.

If they could just get rid of the fraudulent ones I'd be happy.

I agree with both of you on that. The firm I work for it's like 80% Indian in my engineering dept - I wish those jobs were going to Americans instead. I don't really follow immigration stuff closely but when I first started in IT 20 years ago, there were some Indians but it was mostly non-Indian Asians like Chinese. Then at some point it started to shift away from that trend, I never knew why. Now it's mostly Indians, I'd say exclusively in large U.S corp. from my experience.