India faces mounting pressure to condemn Russia, a key ally

[Kooky]

India faces mounting pressure to condemn Russia, a key ally, over Ukraine invasion

New Delhi — India is the only major U.S. ally that has neither condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in clear terms nor backed sanctions against the country, upsetting many of its Western allies. It abstained from recent U.N. Security Council and General Assembly votes on the Russia-Ukraine situation, arguing that sanctions are not a solution, but that the two warring sides should go back to the talking table.

India talked about the importance of "the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," while also offering medical assistance to Ukraine, but did not clearly speak out against Russia.

Now, the country is coming under pressure to condemn Russia — India's decades-old friend and its biggest arms supplier — directly and unequivocally.

Senior officials in Washington have asked India to "take a clear position" while others have demanded an end to the "balancing act" India is trying to do between Russia and the West.

"It's now time [for India] to further distance itself from Russia," the U.S. State Department's Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, said on Tuesday, hinting that the U.S. may reconsider its stance on waiving sanctions against India.

The U.S. did not invoke CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) provisions against India in 2018 when it signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia to purchase the S-400 missile defense system.

Russia is one of India's biggest suppliers of arms like tanks, fighter jets, ships and submarines, among a host of other defense equipment.

"In the history of the world, there has been only one time that a country has transferred a nuclear submarine to another country on lease," Nandan Unnikrishnan, a distinguished fellow at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, told CBS News.

"It's Russia that has given it to India. ... That's the level of strategic cooperation that no other country is going to give India," said Unnikrishnan.

India's position on the Russia-Ukraine war largely reflects that it does have a broader relationship with Russia that it wants to maintain, say experts. Russia has helped India on the world stage, serving India's interests at the U.N. through its voting patterns, particularly on the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan.

Seems like India is in quite the bind, what with their close relationship to Russia while in the process of transferring to a more US aligned relationship with regards to their arch enemies China and Pakistan.

Apparently, they even cancelled a standing order of Russian fighter jets over the issue:

India cancelled orders of Russian jets, weapons: US official at Senate hearing

In wonder if Modi will eventually find words to half-heartedly condemn Russia's invasion, but unless they are going to be bribed with similarly sweet arms deals from the US as they used to receive from Russia, I doubt it.

 

[ajay0]

There is also an article in the same link by an Indian political commentator warning India not to take sides ...

Ukraine: India must not fall into either trap

The Russia-Ukraine war is possibly one of the most discussed in the domain of recent wars. Forget the Afghanistan war of six decades, the Somalian war of four decades, the war in the Middle East of three decades. Forget the part where American-backed Saudis are erasing Yemen from the map, the Palestinian extermination happening for the past 70 years, the invasions of Iraq and Syria, and the sanctions on Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Bolivia, as part of a mandate for international peace pronounced by leaders of the world.

We must assess the Russia-Ukraine conflict against this backdrop. First, a primer to Ukraine. It is contested whether Ukraine was crafted into a modern nation state by Lenin or Ukraine’s star historian Mykhailo Hrushevsky. Vladimir Putin assumes that the nation state of Ukraine was a creation of Lenin through the Bolsheviks. However, the Ukrainians object to such patronising reading of history. Nevertheless, one fact remains, that the confederation of Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.

The conflict has to do with remnants of the Cold War tussle for supremacy. Ukraine is being used by both the Western bloc and Russia to establish their influence. These war games are merely a snapshot of how the Northern Hemisphere thinks of its individual problems as world problems. The nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America earlier parted ways from this thirst of white people for a dominant position.

The Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America charted a solidarity away from the white-imposed world order.

This time it is the breaking away of a former Soviet bloc nation that is hurting the Russian nationalists. Ukraine is the largest of the former Soviet countries.

It is also an independent sovereign nation with full membership of the United Nations. It has diverse population groups, among them those who swear by Russia. And they voted to make Jewish Volodymyr Zelensky the president of the country.

Russia’s anxiety stems from NATO breaking its assurance to not move eastwards in February 1990. Since then, it has added 10 nations that are either neighbours or at arm’s length from Russia, even as it has gone about setting up bases and missiles..

Russia’s annexation of Crimea and then other territories was a clarion call for Ukraine to decide its future. Russia wanted Ukraine to maintain neutrality in the face of NATO aggression.

The former colonial powers of western Europe and newly joined white nations which are the size and strength of Indian districts want to play the role of supervisor of international affairs. There is still nostalgia for the colonial-subject relationship. It is evident in the racist treatment meted out to those of black and brown nationalities seeking to flee conflict zones in Ukraine, by countries that are NATO allies.

 

[Estro Felino]

They have always been a wise people.
Infinite wisdom and courage in going against the mainstrean narrative

 

[Aupmanyav]

Seems like India is in quite the bind, what with their close relationship to Russia while in the process of transferring to a more US aligned relationship with regards to their arch enemies China and Pakistan.
Apparently, they even cancelled a standing order of Russian fighter jets over the issue:
In wonder if Modi will eventually find words to half-heartedly condemn Russia's invasion, but unless they are going to be bribed with similarly sweet arms deals from the US as they used to receive from Russia, I doubt it.

We know how to balance things. We are in no bind and we are doing things in our own way.
I do not think we will cancel any order. It may have been postponed for various reasons, what type of armaments or manufacturing in India, etc.
You are not correct. India favors a resolution of conflicts through dialogue. We will not condemn any one party. India-China talks are continuing.
We pay for whatever we buy. Whoever wants business can negotiate with us. We have a strong foreign exchange reserve of more than USD 600 billion.

 

[Kooky]

We pay for whatever we buy. Whoever wants business can negotiate with us. We have a strong foreign exchange reserve of more than USD 600 billion.

And by all accounts, India has always gotten more from Russia for the same price, strongly implying that they are, indeed, in a bind if they can no longer maintain those kinds of business relationships in the face of international sanctions, because otherwise they will need to funnel increasingly larger amounts of money into their armed forces than they already do.

 

[Aupmanyav]

And by all accounts, India has always gotten more from Russia for the same price, strongly implying that they are, indeed, in a bind if they can no longer maintain those kinds of business relationships in the face of international sanctions, because otherwise they will need to funnel increasingly larger amounts of money into their armed forces than they already do.

That is correct. When you go to market, you buy what best serves your purpose and is not costly. There are things other than defense which also require money. Other countries can provide better merchandise, for example Rafale aircraft instead of F-16s. For that we may pay more, it was a USD 10 billion deal. Furthermore, we need to assess if the seller will fulfill the deal or not, will provide us spares or not. I think Canada stopped the supply of heavy water to us at one time. When a deal is made all these things are considered. That we may not be dependent on just one supplier, that also is considered. For example, Indian Airforce not only has MIG 31-MK but also Rafale and others.

 

[JIMMY12345]

India faces mounting pressure to condemn Russia, a key ally, over Ukraine invasion




Seems like India is in quite the bind, what with their close relationship to Russia while in the process of transferring to a more US aligned relationship with regards to their arch enemies China and Pakistan.

Apparently, they even cancelled a standing order of Russian fighter jets over the issue:

India cancelled orders of Russian jets, weapons: US official at Senate hearing

In wonder if Modi will eventually find words to half-heartedly condemn Russia's invasion, but unless they are going to be bribed with similarly sweet arms deals from the US as they used to receive from Russia, I doubt it.

"The Russian government targeted religions based on State interests, and while most organized religions were never outlawed, religious property was confiscated, believers were harassed, and religion was ridiculed while atheism was propagated in schools. In 1925 the government founded the League of Militant Atheists to intensify the persecution." Source Wiki
The BJP is currently in power.Does the BJP and Mr Modi and India really want to support doctrines that want to extinguish them? If Putin replaces the current more liberal system for the historic anti religious ones it will be very bad news for the BJP. Allies can be enemies later.What happens if anti Religious doctrines get exported.India is close to Russia.
Beware of people who later stab you in the back.

 

[Kooky]

"The Russian government targeted religions based on State interests, and while most organized religions were never outlawed, religious property was confiscated, believers were harassed, and religion was ridiculed while atheism was propagated in schools. In 1925 the government founded the League of Militant Atheists to intensify the persecution."

You do realize that your impression on the issue is nearly a hundred years out of date, do you?

 

[JIMMY12345]

You do realize that your impression on the issue is nearly a hundred years out of date, do you?

Please expand so you can sell me your argument .I probably am out of date here .My post was based on the fact I am guessing that anyone who wanted to build a Temple or Mosque in Moscow or St Petersburg or anywhere in Russia would be impolitely declined. This if not put in jail for 15 years which is waht is handed to Russian who protest the invasion.
Ask in the Free West for an identical request. You will be asked to prove funding and apply for planning approval. USA has lots of cathedrals and churches. It also has lots of Temples and Mosques. IF both India and Pakistan pursue a strictly moral and religious path devoid of political expediency I would suggest they think carefully. Look at how scathing Putin was to Ms Merkel when she opened up Germany to immigration. Putin is nice to India and China only because it suits him. If they took an independent line they become his enemies.

 

[Kooky]

My post was based on the fact I am guessing that anyone who wanted to build a Temple or Mosque in Moscow or St Petersburg or anywhere in Russia would be impolitely declined.

The fact is that you are guessing, based on a report about a regime that no longer exists, and hasn't existed for over 30 years. If you have any evidence that the building of temples of mosques in Russian cities has been actively hindered or banned in the last 30 years, then I would like to see it.

Ask in the Free West for an identical request. You will be asked to prove funding and apply for planning approval.

So you do not remember at all the protests and condemnation of tentative plans to build an Islamic cultural center in NYC near Ground Zero?
Park51 - Wikipedia

 

[JIMMY12345]

Please expand so you can sell me your argument .I probably am out of date here .My post was based on the fact I am guessing that anyone who wanted to build a Temple or Mosque in Moscow or St Petersburg or anywhere in Russia would be impolitely declined. This if not put in jail for 15 years which is waht is handed to Russian who protest the invasion.
Ask in the Free West for an identical request. You will be asked to prove funding and apply for planning approval. USA has lots of cathedrals and churches. It also has lots of Temples and Mosques. IF both India and Pakistan pursue a strictly moral and religious path devoid of political expediency I would suggest they think carefully. Look at how scathing Putin was to Ms Merkel when she opened up Germany to immigration. Putin is nice to India and China only because it suits him. If they took an independent line they become his enemies.

The fact is that you are guessing, based on a report about a regime that no longer exists, and hasn't existed for over 30 years. If you have any evidence that the building of temples of mosques in Russian cities has been actively hindered or banned in the last 30 years, then I would like to see it.


So you do not remember at all the protests and condemnation of tentative plans to build an Islamic cultural center in NYC near Ground Zero?
Park51 - Wikipedia

OK do a google search on the number of temples and mosques in Russia and then do one on the USA .That's fine .Its up to Putin if he goes not want any. Its his country.However the whole world is going to find it very odd if you are trying to defend on a religious forum the following.We are seeing brave Russians being threatened with prison if they protest against the war.We are seeing brave Ukrainians being starved and bombed through no fault of their own.Tell us are you defending the bombing of Ukraine etc?
Tell us religion and morals don't matter its Politics that rules.Tell us we should support the clear aggressor or do you think its just propaganda? as Putin claims