INDIA: Defense relations
History
1947: Totally reliant on Britain
1948-49: India attempted to obtain US equipment, but failed
1950: France to an extent, but mostly from Britain and few from USA
1954: USSR offered to sell military equipment, nehru declined as he thought would complicate western relations
Late 1950s: USA decides to provide Pak supersonic jets
1960s: India signs deal with USSR for Mig21, under 5 year credit to be repaid in non-convertible rupees(2 terms because of which relation with USA has grown)
Subsequent developments
It gave an impression, as per some
scholars. that USSR was on our side in Sino-Indian conflict
After Chinese attack in 1962, western
countries & commonwealth proposed military aid to India
India's criticism of US bombing of Vietnam
in 1960s has not gone well with US
1991: USSR broken to Russia
-Sukhoi
-Leasing of INS Chakra
-Russian inventory in India was close to 91%
-2018: 68% russian but most became obsolete
Soviet era relations
USSR was one country that sent its
Ambassador to establish diplomatic relations with India prior to our declaration of
independence
In 1950s, it announced its support to the
Indian sovereignty over the disputed territory in Kashmir and Goa
In 1962, it declared neutrality in the SinoIndian
war of the 1962.
in 1965, it played a major role in brokering
peace between India and Pakistan.
Outcomes of Russian prez visit: in news
$ 5.43 billion S-400 Triumf Missile
Defence deal
-Action plan for a new nuclear plant
-A space cooperation arrangement to
put an Indian in Space.
the bilateral trade is hovering
around $ 10 billion.
Several billions of dollars of investment
and energy deals are on the pipeline
CAATSA intervention
It aims to counter the aggression by
Iran, Russia and North Korea through the punitive measures.
One part of the Act primarily deals
with sanctions on Russian interests, such as its oil and gas industry,
defence and security sector and financia I institutions.
Section 231 of the Act
empowers US President to impose at least 5 out of 12 listed sanctions
These are on persons / entities
engaged in a significant transactions with Russian defence and intelligence sectors
Meanwhile, the Department of State has
notified 39 Russian entities dealing with whichcould make third parties liable to sanctions
S400 Purchase: Views
It indicates India's desire to deepen
defence cooperation with Russia. despite US warnings, signifying India's will for strategic Autonomy
It indicates that India is not putting the
eggs in one strategic basket.
It is a desire for
multi-polarity.
India signed the deal of S-400, but resisted
concluding other deals like stealth frigates and assault rifles. Probably, India has not taken the
decision of signing other deals, keeping in mind the waiver may not be possible, if all
these are signed
USA already reacted to S-400 deal, making it
clear that any waiver will not be on a "country"basis, but on "transaction-by-transaction"
basis.
Moreover, US proposed sanctions on Iran will
go into force on November 4. So, India wants toconvey some tough decisions.
Unresolved Issues
No clarity on 200 Ka-226 and 48 Mi-17V-5 helicopters, as
well as four Project 11356 frigates
Similarly, there has been no progress on
allotting a site for a new nuclear plant, for which the agreement was signed with Russia 's
Rosatom in 2014.
There is no significant progress on the free
trade agreement between India and theEurasian Economic Union (EAEU) comprising
Russia and several CIS countries, the talks forwhich were initiated in 2015
In 2014, our Prime Minister and Vladimir Putin
set a target for bilateral trade at $30 billionand mutual investments at more than $15
billion annually by 2025. No concrete steps inthis context. With Rosneft- Essar like deals, the
investments is achievable, but trade volumesare not up to the mark
The implementation of the International NorthSouth
Transport Corridor (INSTC) remains a distant dream
No formal progress on the talks on settlement
in national currencies between the two countries