Russia-India relations and economic deals

India seems in an awful hurry to become a new vassal of the reborn British Empire.

Don't be seduced, India.

flamming_python wrote:India seems in an awful hurry to become a new vassal of the reborn British Empire.

Don't be seduced, India.

That aint going to change, when you got signs everywhere in India about "studying so you can live in the US or UK". Essentially, it is every Indian's dream to be a subject of the US and UK. They are a stupid bunch of people.

JohninMK wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:

flamming_python wrote:India seems in an awful hurry to become a new vassal of the reborn British Empire.

Don't be seduced, India.

That aint going to change, when you got signs everywhere in India about "studying so you can live in the US or UK".  Essentially, it is every Indian's dream to be a subject of the US and UK.  They are a stupid bunch of people.

Not just Indians. Few understand that the image of prosperity in the West that they all aspire to is just a mirage built on a sand castle of debt.

many understand that after living here for enough time. Many said it is praised and all is a lie. I've been to India because of work. Many are good people trying. I also understand their education outside of math, English and science is extremely lacking. Many don't even know their own history, let alone others. Their government is crooked, because lets be frank here: if this was an Indian Submarine, it would have been treason. Reason? Even after all the hoopla in media between US and Pakistan, US is still funding, arming and training Pakistan. The terrorists in Kashmir, most are fighters migrated after the 80's that were trained and fought against Soviets. Most of the programs plaguing Pakistan date back to the 70's and 80's of CIA involvement.  Indians think this whole ordeal is 100% Pakistan, but it isn't.  The other one they love to ignore is that many of the terrorist supporters of Khalistan movement are in the west - Canada, US and UK.

Does Russia train and harbor Indian terrorists? No. Did they protect Indian terrorists or train them? No. Who stood by India during times of sanctions and US threats to nuke India in 76? Russia. It comes down to the fact that India is a piss poor friend. At least US and UK were never Russian friends and they make it obvious. India on the other hand is the worst due to deceit.

Indian defence minister's speech in Moscow yesterday: "Russia has re-established its role and influence in global strategic and defence matters ... the solution to the key challenges we face today require Russia’s active involvement."

http://indianembassy.ru/index.php/en/bilateral-relations/statements-speeches-interviews/2222-address-by-mrs-nirmala-sitharaman-defence-minister-of-india-at-the-seventh-moscow-conference-on-international-security-mcis-04-04-2018-on-global-security-in-a-polycentric-world

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-to-visit-russia-next-week-for-informal-summit-with-putin/

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Russia on May 21 for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on May 14. The informal summit will be held in Russian city of Sochi.

“This will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective with the objective of further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic partnership,” the MEA said in a statement. It said both the leaders will also discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters.

“This informal Summit in Sochi between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels,” the MEA said. Last month, Modi had travelled to Chinese city of Wuhan for an informal summit with President Xi Jingpin.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/modi-in-sochi-pm-invokes-vajpayee-to-assert-india-russia-strategic-ties-5185639/

The potential deal between Gazprom and GAIL is valued at 25b $ over a period of time

https://www.rt.com/business/430185-russia-india-defense-deals-dollar/amp/#click=https://t.co/d19FlXlU3i

So India and Russia will do all military transactions (possibly all transactions) in domestic currencies to bypass any and all sanctions.

US sanctions have no major impact on Indo-Russian defense ties: Envoy

India will early next month allot a new site in Andhra Pradesh to Russia to build yet another atomic power project, as preliminary works for the last two units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu already commenced.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-allot-andhra-pradesh-693395.html

I heard that India is buying 4 more Talwar frigates, true?

miketheterrible wrote:I heard that India is buying 4 more Talwar frigates, true?

yea true 4 more talwar class frigates

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-clears-way-for-2-2-billion-frigates-deal-with-russia/articleshow/65835654.cms

Vladimir Putin India visit LIVE updates: During Putin's visit, India and Russia are likely to sign about 20 pacts in areas ranging from defence, nuclear energy, space and economy.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vladimir-putin-india-visit-live-updates-india-russia-agreements-summit-narendra-modi-5385957/

Here is the itinerary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India

His Excellency Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, October 04 - 05, 2018.

Thursday, October 04, 2018

1840 hrs: Arrival in Delhi, Venue: New Dispersal Area, AFS Palam, Photo Op: AV Media

1930 hrs: Meeting with Prime Minister, Venue: 7, Lok Kalyan Marg

Friday, October 05, 2018

1100 hrs: Meeting with Prime Minister of India, Venue: Hyderabad House, Photo Op: AV Media

1130 hrs: Delegation Level Talks

1330 hrs: Exchange of Agreements and Press Statements, Venue: Hyderabad House, All Media

1430 hrs: Interaction with group of talented children, Venue: Central garden, ITC Maurya, Agencies Only

1530 hrs: Address India-Russia Business Summit, Venue: Kamal Mahal, ITC Maurya, Contact Organiser CII/DIPP

1630 hrs: Meeting with the President, Venue: Rashtrapati Bhawan, Photo Op: Agencies Only

1740 hrs: Emplane

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Delhi on Thursday for the annual India-Russia summit which could see the signing of military deals totalling close to $10 billion; a 24-hour visit that could have lasting implications for the India-U.S. relationship as well.

On Friday, India and Russia are expected to conclude three major military deals: for five S-400 missile systems estimated to cost about ₹39,000 crore (more than $5 billion), four stealth frigates and a deal for Ak-103 assault rifles to be manufactured in India. The U.S. has warned that the deals could attract sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law that restricts defence purchases from Russia, Iran and North Korea.

India has been in negotiations with the U.S. administration for a “sanctions waiver”, but American officials have given no clear signal they will provide one. Last month, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on China as it started taking delivery of Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 systems.

Tightrope walk

The breadth of agreements, including the S-400 deal, during Mr. Putin’s visit is seen as a reiteration of India’s desire for “strategic autonomy” that was highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech this year. It comes a month after the inaugural 2+2 dialogue with the U.S., in which India signed the third foundational agreement — Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement
(COMCASA) — in addition to announcing several measures to operationalise the Major Defence Partner status, indicative of the difficult balance India hopes to maintain amid deepening U.S.-Russia tensions.

On Wednesday Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said that once the Defence Ministry signs the contract, deliveries of the S-400 systems would begin in 24 months. In October 2016, the two countries concluded Inter-Governmental Agreements (IGA) for S-400 systems and four stealth frigates after which the negotiations began to conclude a commercial contract.

Mr. Putin and Mr. Modi will meet on Friday for a “working breakfast” followed by delegation-level talks. They are expected to witness the signing of at least 23 agreements, an official said, including Memoranda of Understanding for investment deals, a major agreement on space cooperation where Russia will assist India with its ‘Gaganyaan’ programme to put a human in space, an MoU for Road Transport and the Road Industry, as well as one for cooperation on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Officials say that nuclear power cooperation, one of the cornerstones of India-Russia ties, will be discussed, but the announcement of new sites for the next phase of Kudankulam reactors is yet to be finalised due to “land acquisition issues.”

Both leaders will also meet with young Indian and Russian student “geniuses” who have excelled in studies, as part of an educational exchange programme.


https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/russian-president-vladimir-putin-arrives-in-india/article25124020.ece?homepage=true

Good to see cooperation in space is included...

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/russia-narendra-modi-order-of-st-andrew-the-apostle-1500321-2019-04-12

Russia awarded PM Narendra Modi the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the highest and the oldest Russian state decoration

HIGHLIGHTS
PM Modi awarded for helping boost India-Russia ties
Order of St Andrew the Apostle was established in 17th century
The award is Russia's highest state decoration
Russia has awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the highest order of the Russian Federation. PM Modi was awarded the order for "exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between" Russia and India, the Russian embassy in India said in a tweet.

PM Modi thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "honoured to receive this prestigious award". "Foundations of India-Russia friendship are deep & the future of our partnership is bright," PM Modi said, adding, "President Putin remains a source of great strength for the India-Russia friendship. Under his visionary leadership, bilateral and multilateral cooperation between our nations has scaled new heights."

According to the Russian government, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle was established in the 17th century by Peter the Great around 1699 and is the oldest of Russia's state decorations.

The Order of St Andrew the Apostle is both the highest and the oldest state decoration of Russia. The order was abolished in the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1918 and was re-established in 1998.


In 2017, Chinese president Xi Jinping was awarded the Order of St Andrew the Apostle.

With the Russian award, PM Narendra Modi has now been honoured with around seven top global awards. PM Modi has previously been awarded the United Arab Emirates's top honour as well as of countries including South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Afghanistan.

Indian AN-32 goes missing near the Chinese border. 7 days later, Indians can't find it.

https://scroll.in/latest/926501/missing-an-32-plane-seven-mountaineers-join-search-operation

New Delhi: India signed the LEMOA or the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement with the United States in August 2016. A similar agreement with Russia is likely in the next two months.

The Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement (RLSA) is being readied and could happen in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to be in Vladivostok for the East Asia Summit in September.

The RLSA will be a tri-service agreement, meaning that the Russians could not only use ports like Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for refuelling but also, airports after the agreement is signed. India, of course, could do the same, when it came to Russian ports and airbases. Interestingly, global warming makes the signing of the agreement with Russia, one of India's closest defence allies, more imperative.

A high-level government official pointed out that the "Northern Arctic could well be upon for longer periods because of global warming. And also, India is looking at an Arctic station in the near future." Currently, there are monitoring stations manned by Indian environmental scientists in Svalbard, in Norway.

Russia is looking for a greater Indian role during the East Asia Summit. They have requested India for the presence of a warship to be anchored off Vladivostok during the summit. This could well be a frigate or destroyer of the Indian Navy made by an Indian shipyard.


The RLSA is more evidence of India's refusal to abandon its 50-year-old defence ties with Russia, despite American pressure. The United States had expressed its disappointment after India purchased the S-400 air-defence system and frigates. During the last meeting with US officials during the visit by Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, India pointed out that Russia had helped when no other country was willing to offer weapons and equipment.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/india-could-sign-lemoa-like-logistics-agreement-with-russia-during-pm-narendra-modis-vladivostok-visit/454355

G Parthasarathy
Chancellor, jammu central university & former high commissioner to pakistan

Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on August 14 and asked for Russia’s support to Pakistan’s move, together with China, in the UN Security Council to condemn India’s action to amend Articles 364 and 35-A. His demarche included the usual Pakistani propaganda about alleged violations of ‘human rights’ in J&K. Lavrov, in response, ‘emphasised the need for de-escalation of tensions’. He added: ‘There is no alternative to resolve differences between Pakistan and India, except bilaterally through political and diplomatic means. Representatives of Russia to the UN adhere to this consistent position.’


Barely 48 hours later, the effort by China and Pakistan, in a closed-door meeting of the UNSC, was rejected almost unanimously by other members, including the US, Russia, France and Germany. Some eyebrows were raised on the actions of the British Deputy Permanent Security, who was seen encouraging the Chinese delegation to demand an open meeting. Given the attacks on Indians and the Indian High Commission in London in the days that followed, it is obvious that the British government is condoning, and perhaps even encouraging, less than friendly actions against Indian interests. New Delhi will hopefully respond appropriately on issues like British requests for a Free Trade Agreement after Brexit.


Russia has consistently supported India on Kashmir. In 1955, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev referred to the decision taken by the Kashmir Constituent Assembly in 1953 to join the Indian Union. He remarked: ‘The people of Kashmir had already decided to join the Indian Union.’ Russia’s 100th veto in the UNSC on June 22, 1962, was against a resolution moved by Ireland, duly backed by the US and its allies, seeking selective implementation of parts of past UN resolutions, alluding to a plebiscite in Kashmir. Interestingly, this came a year after a Soviet veto of a US-led resolution in 1961, seeking to reverse the liberation of Goa by India.


The Soviet Union vetoed three resolutions directed against India during the 1971 Bangladesh conflict. Some non-permanent members, backed by a virtual Sino-American alliance, initiated these resolutions. The UK and France abstained from backing these resolutions. The Russians warned the Chinese against any involvement in the Bangladesh conflict, with a huge deployment of their mechanised forces and air power along the Kazakhstan border. When the US Seventh Fleet’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, entered the Bay of Bengal in December 1971, a Russian nuclear submarine trailed it. When the Soviet Union collapsed, President Clinton persuaded Russian President Boris Yeltsin to halt all cooperation with India’s space programme. Bypassing Yeltsin, Russian scientists passed on designs of cryogenic engines to us.


Given US hostility aimed at ‘containing’ Moscow, a cash-strapped Putin’s Russia naturally moved towards a closer relationship with China, while it watched what it believed was an increasingly close embrace of Washington by New Delhi. While Moscow and New Delhi had cooperated closely in countering the Taliban in Afghanistan, India worked closely with the US, after the US intervention in Afghanistan, post 9/11. The Sino-Russian global entente today primarily aims at containing US unilateralism. While Putin has opened the door for arms purchases by Pakistan, Islamabad does not have the hard cash to pay for Russian weapons. Russia has also joined China to cooperate with Pakistan on attempts to broker peace in Afghanistan, as the US prepares to withdraw. Putin has, however, consistently held that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally. The Russian position on its border disputes with Ukraine is also that these issues should be settled bilaterally. Moreover, Crimea has historically been a part of Russia. Nikita Khrushchev had rather impetuously handed it over to Ukraine in 1958.


Moscow’s concerns about the India-US relationship were substantially assuaged when, disregarding threats of US sanctions on arms purchases, India announced that it was going ahead with a $5.43 billion deal to purchase S 400 missiles from Moscow. It is also clear, especially after Modi’s recent visit, that India is not going to bow to threats of sanctions on its acquisitions from Russia, including indigenous production of AK 203 rifles, lease of nuclear submarines, purchase of TU 22 bombers and modernisation/upgrade of current Russian equipment. Modi’s visit to Russia’s resource-rich Far East has given a new ‘Look East’ dimension to India’s ties with Russia.

While India was already an investment partner in the production of natural gas in Russia, Modi’s allocation of $1 billion for Russia’s Far East will set the stage for expanding cooperation. Trade in items like LNG and coal is set to get a boost with the energy corridor between Vladivostok and Chennai. India also has a keen interest in imports of Russian diamonds. Russia helped in ending global nuclear sanctions against India. It now leads in building nuclear plants in India.

The Russians have for long feared that Chinese would move in and take control of their sparsely populated northeastern borders. Despite the present Sino-Russian bonhomie, the Russians deeply distrust long-term Chinese intentions. Even today, Moscow hedges its bets and keeps it channels of communication and cooperation open with both India and Vietnam. The US also today seeks maritime and economic cooperation with both India and Vietnam to counter Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific Region. Indian diplomacy will, in coming years, remain focused on the emerging power equations between the US, China and Russia, in a world where the US and Russia will be the major players in the global energy sector.


https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/a-friendship-for-keeps/834774.html

India is set to change the bank it uses to make payments for Russian arms and is likely to route the money through UCO Bank, which is also being used to carry out trade with Iran.

NEW DELHI: India is set to change the bank it uses to make payments for Russian arms and is likely to route the money through UCO Bank, which is also being used to carry out trade with Iran. The payments, which are complicated due to the threat of US sanctions on purchase of military hardware like the S-400 air defence systems from Russia, were earlier being routed through Syndicate Bank

Sources told Economic Times that the new route was necessary due to the merger of Syndicate and Canara banks, with the latter having exposure to international markets that could be threatened due to US sanctions. UCO Bank, which has been used in the past to make payments for oil to Iran, is likely to get business worth over $4 billion annually, given the large volume of Russian arms that have been ordered and are in the process of delivery. As reported by ET, an alternative route to channel the money to Russia was figured out last year after payment worth billions got bunched up after State Bank of India (SBI) refused to carry out transactions with the fear that sanctions could be triggered

Major projects for which payments will flow to Russia over the next few years include the $5.4 billion contract for the S-400 system, a $3 billion deal to lease another nuclear attack submarine and the $2 billion contract to procure four frigates for the navy. Besides, upcoming contracts that are in the final stages of contract signing include the $1 billion deal for Kamov KA 226 choppers and AK 203 assault rifles that are to be made in India.

Despite the ever present threat of US sanctions, India has been clear that it will not back off from the S-400 deal with Russian manufacturer Almaz-Antey that has been in Washington cross hairs. However, the threat of US action under the controversial Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) had scared away financial institutions from processing transactions.

As reported by ET, while India found an alternate route for payments by using banks with minimal exposure to the US, the issue took over a year to resolve as Russian financial institutions too refused to be party to transactions that would threaten their global business. Meanwhile, India is seeking to strike a balance with deals worth billions under discussion with the US as well. This includes additional Poseidon P8I maritime aircraft valued at over $3 b and a $2.6 b deal for 24 naval multi role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters. Other plans include the $1 b National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System for the National Capital Region, six more Apache attack helicopters and a $1 billion deal to acquire 13 of the MK 45 naval guns to be used on frontline warships.

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/after-iran-uco-bank-may-be-chosen-to-pay-russia/articleshow/73317258.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Excellent read. India is moving steadfastly toward the US as its strategic partner and security guarantor, an incredibly naive and stupid move that will undoubtedly turn into an embarrassing failure of foreign policy. For a country that once took due pride in their independent, non-aligned strategic policy, they are steering gleefully into the embrace of the US, on course to become another vassal state.

https://www.mk.ru/politics/2021/02/21/ekspert-nazval-plyusy-ot-prodazhi-rossiyskogo-oruzhiya-pakistanu.html

It's simple: the Indians threw out the MiG-35 from the tender and preferred the French Rafale to it. So, according to their logic, this is a bad plane? That is, they should not have any objections to the fact that we will deliver to Pakistan a “bad” plane, in their opinion? Well, and the fact that Pakistan for half the money will be able to buy twice as many... than the Indians bought Rafale, this will already be a reason for the Indian military to think about the correctness of their choice.

Here's another aspect: after all, India itself buys weapons from those countries that supply them at the same time to her and Pakistan. Pakistan is full of French weapons: submarines, fighters ... Nevertheless, the Indians continue to actively work with France. That is, it turns out that the French are allowed to supply weapons to Pakistan, but we are given some conditions?

As soon as Russia delivered four helicopters to Pakistan, the cry went up to the skies. Why is France allowed what Russia is not allowed? It doesn't have to be that way.

Again, while India mainly bought weapons from Russia, this can and should be tolerated. Well, or at least be understanding. But if now India sees Russia not as the first country where you buy weapons, but as one of many, then why should we limit ourselves? If Russia no longer has exclusive positions on the Indian market, then why should Moscow perceive India as a privileged partner?

India is selling itself out or nothing in return. They've already happily signed away four foundational agreements submitting themselves to US military oversight. Yet when the shit hit the fan last year with China in Ladakh, Uncle Sam didn't do a thing for them except offer some token words. It was Russia that stepped up with its diplomacy to mediate between the two sides, hosting a meeting of their respective defence chiefs in Moscow to negotiate a settlement to the fighting.

Like so many other countries, Indians have been seduced by the superficial glitz and glamour American media and politicians sell so well to enchant countries into believing in fairy tales. But in reality, there is nothing much the US can do for India against China if they enter into confrontation. And the irony is that the more India draws itself closer to the US, the more it aggravates the Chinese, further straining relations. A thoroughly nonsensical and counterproductive strategy. In the end they would only have themselves to blame.

As I've repeated before, Russia's foreign policy toward ungrateful, sell-out countries (especially including ex-Soviet and Eastern European states) should be strictly transactional and commercial. Give up privately on hopes for any of them cherishing fraternity, brotherhood, shared history, culture, language etc., but in public carry on trumpeting such fanciful, rhetorical "values". Sell that bullshit, make money and secure your strategic interests. The US has already provided the blueprints to this facetious playbook, selling their "values" too.