India, China and Russia for multi-polar world

Deciding to give a push to their trilateral forum, India, Russia and China on Wednesday underlined the need for a multi-polar world through “democratisation” of international relations, with the UN having the central role as an “effective and transparent” body.

Foreign ministers of the three countries, who held wide-ranging tripartite talks here, opposed ‘confrontation’ as a mechanism to govern approaches to regional and global affairs, including in the context of Iran’s nuclear issue, apparently hinting at the US.

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The lessons from Putin’s visit

As expected, the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Delhi went off very successfully, rejuvenating the time-tested Indo-Russian strategic partnership and adding new dimensions to it.

Among other things, Russia has agreed to initiate joint development of a fifth generation combat aircraft and a multi-role transport aircraft. Further possibilities in defence R&D cooperation are being explored.

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India-Russia: Bound by arms and space

India has said defence cooperation with Russia has provided a vital element of trust and stability to bilateral ties and there is a need to further strengthen the linkages between New Delhi’s requirements and the Russian defence industry in a long term perspective.

“Defence cooperation has provided a vital element of trust and stability, and a solid foundation to our bilateral ties. Our cooperation with Russia in matters of defence is very deep and very strong and it has existed from the times of the former Soviet Union,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Russian media in an interview.

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Why Russia and India matter to each other

With the focus of public attention on the foreign policy front over the last year or so having been on India’s relations with the United States, it is easy to miss the significance of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit this week.

Yet, it is anything but a routine one.

For the first time ever, a Russian head of State has been invited as chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations, the most prestigious and visible event on India’s diplomatic calendar, one whose significance goes beyond State-to-State diplomacy.

The public exposure that the chief guest and the country he represents get is an integral part of the importance and significance of the visit. It sends a powerful message not only to the country being honoured and to the rest of the world, but, equally importantly, to the people of India.

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Russia, India Discuss Military-Technical Cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov met Indian National Security Advisor Mayankote Kelath Narayanan on Thursday to discuss the state of and prospects for the development of Russian-Indian military relations.

The meeting also involved director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriyev.

Ivanov said from 2000 relations between Russia and India began developing “dynamically and rather deeply” after both countries signed an agreement on strategic partnership.

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US looks forward to closer ties with ‘global power’ India

After the civil nuclear deal, the United States looks forward to further expanding relations with India in areas ranging from trade to regional security as with any global power or ally.

“Well, obviously India is a large, booming, vital country with a rapidly expanding economy, and we are delighted to be having closer and continuing closer relationships with the government of India and the people of India,” White House spokesman Tony Snow said on Friday.

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At $1.5 bn, India is Israel’s largest arms buyer

Buoyed by Indian defence procurement worth $1.5 billion, the Israeli defence industries have recorded all time high sales figures in 2006.

“India was Israel’s biggest customer with purchases reaching $1.5 billion,” Maj Gen. Yossi Ben-Hanan, head of SIBAT, the Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Department at the defence ministry told The Jerusalem Post.

It included Israel’s single largest sale to a foreign country made by the Israel Aircraft Industries in the sale of the Barak Naval anti-missile defense system, valued at some $450 million, Ben-Hanan told the daily.

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Pakistan to get high-tech air defense system

As per President Musharraf’s directives, Pakistan will acquire a high-tech air defense system, but it must come with the transfer of technology, an official Said.

According to the Pakistani daily ‘The News’, China and a European country have offered Pakistan high-to-medium-altitude air defense system, low-to-medium-altitude air defense system, medium-altitude air defense system and short-range air Defense system,” said an official who did not want his identity revealed.

“The two countries have also offered to set up a project in Pakistan for manufacturing short- medium- and high-range air defense systems,” he added.

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China Hints At Plans For Strong Navy

President Hu Jintao’s call last week for a strong Chinese navy won’t threaten U.S. military dominance any time soon. But in China, where symbolism is often as important as substance, the address was seen by analysts as serving two functions: to help build a policy consensus and signal his near complete grip on the political field in advance of a key party congress next fall.

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India, Myanmar Set to Increase Military, Energy Co-operation

Increased contacts between senior military chiefs on both sides of the Burma-India border, involving Indian weapons sales, are believed by analysts to have two primary objectives: to help flush out Burma-based Indian insurgents and to counter growing Chinese influence in Naypyidaw.

But the sale of arms and related technical equipment is also likely to be linked to New Delhi’s “Look East” economic policy, including ambitions to buy huge quantities of Burma’s offshore gas in the Bay of Bengal. If the gas bid—against rivals China and Thailand—is successful, it will also involve building a costly pipeline through rebel-infested areas of northwest Burma and northeast India.

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