Russia tops the list of India’s strategic partners: Study

“Strategic partnership/Strategic relationship,” – what does this much-touted word in global diplomacy mean? Does it mean a strong relationship bound primarily by security and defence ties? Or does it mean a privileged and special relationship between the two countries? There is no precise definition, and it could mean various things depending on perspective you bring to it. Take India’s case, for example. There are at least a dozen countries with whom India has forged strategic relationship and partnership. And this includes China, the Asian power that is often seen as India’s key rival and even an enemy by some strategic experts.

In an incisive article in The Hindu, a leading Indian daily, Nirupama Subramanian tries to unravel the meaning of strategic partnership and some of the paradoxes implicit in such a characterization. She quotes extensively from a study conducted by the Foundation for National Security Research, a New Delhi-based think tank, that assesses India’s strategic partnerships and seeks to identify “what New Delhi should seek from these partnerships, thus aiming to provide a home-grown definition of the king of bilateral relations.”

Titled “India’s Strategic Partners: A Comparative Assessment,” the study “assesses India’s strategic partnership with six countries — United States; Russia; France; United Kingdom; Germany; and Japan — by grading them on the dividends these partnerships have yielded for India in three areas of co-operation: political-diplomatic ties; defence ties; and economic relations.”

The Russia-India partnership tops the list. “Russia consistently backs India on Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan and terrorism, and according to the study “is most comfortable with India’s rise” while sharing Indian “concerns on the implications of China’s rise.” The study points out that the 2009 India-Russia civilian nuclear pact is much better than the India-US nuclear deal and stressed that Russia remains India’s top supplier of military hardware. However, the study shows that of all the six countries Russia scores least on trade relations, with bilateral trade of less than $10 billion.

“The United States, with which India’s strategic partnership goes back to 2004, comes second, having fared poorly on FNSR’s political-diplomatic scale. The study describes U.S. support for India on Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan as “insubstantial and inconsistent”.

“It sees U.S. support for India’s candidature to the U.N. Security Council as the “weakest” among the six nations. In contrast to Russia, India-U.S. trade relations are the best, with greater potential for the future.” “The study sees the 2006 strategic partnership with Japan as the least developed, making only 34 points,” writes Subramanian.

This study, the article says, concludes that “India should not bestow the “respectable nomenclature” of a strategic partner on one and all, but only on those countries with which there is “a strong and mutually beneficial relationship” in all three sectors — political-diplomatic; defence and economic co-operation. “For India’s so-called strategic agreements with a host of other countries, the study suggests finding a “less serious” nomenclature.”

But at the end of the day, there is still no template definition of strategic relationship or partnership. It’s eminently sensible to evaluate such a relationship on the basis of what tangible benefits it brings to the partners.

“In reality, how a strategic partnership evolves has much to do with how successfully one or both parties balance the conflicting interests of its various partners, and keep differences to a minimum,” says Subramanian.

Source:RIR

Ukraine for durable defence ties with India

Having supplied military hardware to Pakistan, Ukraine now wants to enter into a durable defence relationship with India.Subjected to competing pulls from Russia and the European Union, Ukraine is looking at Asia, especially India, for collaboration in a large number of areas including civil nuclear energy, visiting Ukraine Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko told The Hinduin an interview.

“India is a very important part of what we need to understand and it is part of our future destiny. Today the world is changing and being simply Europe-centred is not the answer to the future of [Ukraine's] survival and progress,” said Mr. Gryshchenko on his first visit to the country.

Home to niche technologies and having been subjected to a nuclear accident in 1986, Ukraine has lessons in nuclear safety for India because this sector still caters to 45-50 per cent of the country’s energy needs. Most reactors are based on the same technology offered by the Russians for the Kudankulam plant and a large number of Ukrainian engineers were working there till protesters forced a shutdown.

“We are not simply a transit country which guarantees the best and safest transit routes for gas from Russia to Europe,” said the Minister in a reference to this issue that is making the news after Ukrainian’s former Prime Minister and leader of the ‘Orange Revolution’ Yulia Tymoshenko was jailed for abuse in office while finalising a gas deal with Russia.

“There are a number of areas where Ukraine can be useful,” he said.

India and Ukraine are understood to be working on an energy pact which will subsume a memorandum of understanding between the civil nuclear regulators as also cover sectors such as gas and solar energy.

But for the immediate future, it is defence which will gain the most attention. Kiev is already modernising the An-32s, backbone of the Indian Air Force’s transport and troop replenishment fleet, and wants a more wide-ranging relationship.

A specialised matter

Terming defence ties a specialised matter that should be discussed by experts, Mr. Gryshchenko maintained that the two countries did not have political issues that could hinder a comprehensive military-technical relationship.

India and Ukraine could begin by coordinating efforts against pirates off the Gulf of Aden, described by the Minister as a “scourge that affects both countries,” exchanging notes on United Nations peace keeping operations, and moving towards interoperability between the militaries through joint exercises.

‘Aggressive action’

“We are openly interested in helping India to upgrade its capabilities to negate any intention [by another country] to start aggressive action. We welcome any opportunity to provide India defence systems that contribute to increasing stability in the region.”

Mr. Gryshchenko conceded that this can only be brought about by regular high level exchanges and said the two sides were trying to work out dates for his President Viktor Yanukovych (who defeated Ms. Tymoshenko in the polls last year) to visit India. Ukraine is also hoping for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to include Kiev in his itinerary the next time he heads for Europe.

India Japan resume nuclear talks

TOKYO/NEW DELHI: Japan on Saturday agreed to resume civil nuclear negotiations with India that were stalled after the Fukushima disaster and accelerate the joint development of rare earth material deposits.


In a development that will be closely watched by China, external affairs minister SM Krishna, who concluded the fifth round of strategic dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba in Tokyo, said the India-Japan-United States trilateral dialogue will be held soon.


Krishna and Gemba discussed a host of issues that included jointly combating piracy and terrorism to civil nuclear cooperation, climate change and the evolving East Asia architecture. They also discussed ways to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Japan relations next year.


The discussions, which lasted over an hour, have set the stage for the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to India in December.


Japan indicated its readiness to resume civil nuclear negotiations with India that were stalled after the March 11 Fukushima radiation disaster and the ensuing political uncertainty in that country.


"I also discussed with foreign minister Gemba the status of civil nuclear cooperation between our countries. As you are aware, we have had three rounds of negotiations on this subject," Krishna said at a joint press conference with Gemba in Tokyo.


"After my discussions today, I am optimistic on this score," he said.


The two countries "will move forward talks on the civilian nuclear cooperation pact while paying consideration to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation", Jiji Press quoted Gemba as saying.


"We agreed to resume negotiations at the working level so that we can surely move towards it," he said.


Nuclear negotiations with India have been a sensitive political subject in Japan, the only country that has borne the brunt of nuclear weapons.


In another key development, the two countries decided to spur their high-technology cooperation and collaborate in the development of rare earths. Japan has removed seven Indian entities from its foreign end user list this year, which included Indian Rare Earths Limited.


"We now look forward to greater cooperation between Indian and Japanese firms in the rare earths sector," Krishna said.


"The two countries will move ahead with a joint development," of rare earth deposits in India, said Gemba. Tokyo is seeking to diversify rare earth supplies as Beijing controls more than 90 percent of global supply.


Expressing sympathy with Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Krishna said India was "ready to help in whatever way required".


"We also discussed the India-Japan-United States trilateral dialogue. We agreed that it will be held very soon. It will cover regional and international issues of concern to all three countries," Krishna said.


Beijing is uneasy with the trilateral dialogue and sees it as an attempt to contain its rise in Asia.


Krishna also thanked Japan for maintaining the level of its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to India despite its focus on reconstruction activity after the earthquake and tsunami.


"This is a strong vote of confidence in India's growth story and exhibits the importance Japan attaches to our strategic partnership," he said.


Close on the heels of Krishna's visit, defence minister AK Antony goes on a day-long visit to Tokyo on November 2.


Source:TOI

Pak says India played big role in its bid for UNSC seat

KARACHI: India played a big role in supporting Pakistan's successful bid to become a non-permanent member of the powerful UN Security Council, Islamabad's envoy to the world body Abdullah Hussain Haroon said here today. 


Many of the countries that Pakistan had considered as friends were no longer its friends, but India "supported us in becoming a non-permanent member of the 15-member Security Council," Haroon told reporters at the Karachiairport. 


Pakistan, which was challenged by Kyrgyzstan, was backed by 129 of the 193 member states in the UN General Assembly. Kyrgyzstan polled 55 votes. 


Pakistan will replace Lebanon, which currently occupies the Asian seat, on January 1, 2012, for a two-year term. 


Haroon said that Pakistan had worked very hard in the past six months to win votes for the prestigious seat. 


"I think we should not be discouraged by the reaction by some of the nations in the UN because I can say the world wants Pakistan to play its positive role in the global scenario," he said. 


Pakistan has been on the Council six times earlier -- 1952-53, 1968-69, 1976-77, 1983-84, 1993-94 and 2003-04. It's new term would overlap with India -- which began its two-year tenure on January 1 this year -- for the fourth time. 


Pakistan and India had earlier shared terms on the Security Council in 1968, 1977 and 1984. 


Haroon said Pakistan was committed to multilateralism and promoting principles and purposes enshrined in the UN Charter. 


To a question on US drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas, he said he could only take up the issue if the government authorised him to do so. "But we should not be scared of these attacks." he added.


Source:TOI

India to announce jet fighter within weeks

 NEW DELHI, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Dassault and Eurofighter will go head-to-head this month to win a $10.4 billion contract to supply India with a medium multi-role combat aircraft.
The winner is expected to be announced in November, The Times of India reported
Defense Minister A. K. Antony, who is chairman of the Defense Acquisitions Council, made the announcement. He said the council approved the offsets evaluation reports of the Eurofighter Typhoon -- backed by EADS that includes British, Germany, Spanish and Italian companies-- and the French group Dassault's Rafale jet.
The announcement signals the final stage of the controversial competition that has seen India reject bids from four other major fighter manufacturers.
India is in "the last lap" for making a decision, Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne said.
"In the middle of November, we shall be able to announce to the whole world which plane we have selected," he said.
India is hoping to have the plane operational by 2015.
India also evaluated proposals for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet from Boeing, Lockheed Martin's F-16, the Russian-made MiG-35 and the Gripen from Swedish firm Saab.
DAC began evaluating all the proposals in April, looking at each bidder's value-for-money tender, although trials of the aircraft began last year.
The U.S., Russian and Swedish bids eventually were rejected after technical evaluation and field trials, The Times of India report said.
Indian media reported in April that one unnamed bidder had made a final pitch to upgrade its offer but the DCA rejected any last-minute changes to bids.
"No offers for upgrades or changes in the original bid submitted by the six aircraft companies would be allowed as their aircraft have been judged on the basis of capabilities offered in the original bid and their performance in the field trials," an unnamed air force source said at the time.
Many of India's nearly 800 fighters are aging Soviet-era and Russian aircraft, including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29 and some Sukhoi Su-30MKI planes. The air force also has Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar and French Mirage 2000 aircraft produced under license.
The MRCA deal is imperative for the air force because of the age of its largest aircraft by numbers, the MIG-21, a 1970s fighter.
The long-awaited aircraft deal -- the tender was issued in August 2007 -- will be one of India's largest capital military expenditures likely in the next several years.
The purchase is reflected in the country's boosted defense budget, announced earlier this year -- an increase of more than 11 percent in the face of China's growing military might.
The jump to $36.5 billion for 2011-12, from $32.74 billion, includes a 12 percent boost in capital spending for equipment and services.


Source: http://www.upi.com

India To Get A Glance of Fifth-Gen Fighter Jet

India will get a glance of the joint Indo-Russian Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft when Russia conducts a test flight next week.

Moscow and New Delhi have signed an inter-governmental agreement for joint design, development and production of the aircraft, involving the Sukhoi Design Bureau on the Russian side and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) on the Indian side.

The test flight is being held for Indian Defense Minister A. K. Antony, who is visiting Moscow Oct. 3-5, according to a senior defense ministry official.

The Indian air force will be the first foreign customer to buy the new jet. India has announced plans to buy 250-300 fighters of this type, with the first deliveries expected in 2016-17. The cost of the project is likely to exceed $35 billion.

In December 2010, India and Russia signed a $295 million preliminary design contract. The initial design will take approximately 18 months. The Indian model’s main difference will be a two-man crew, and HAL is hoping to complete the initial design.

India is expected to spend around $35 billion over the next two decades to field these advanced stealth fighters from 2020 onward.

During Antony’s visit to Russia, the two sides also will discuss the licensed manufacture and maintenance of T-90 tanks and Su-30MKI aircraft in India, the official says.

Meanwhile, plans are being formed to upgrade the Su-30MKI, deployed by the Indian air force, with certain fifth-generation aircraft characteristics to convert it into a “Super Sukhoi.” The service currently has about 100 Su-30MKI fighters. “The upgrade will cover the Su-30MKI’s weapons load and list,” the official says.

The modernized Su-30MKI will be loaded with one air-launched BrahMos missile, another joint development involving Brahmos Aerospace Private Ltd., Sukhoi Holding and HAL.

While in Russia, Antony will co-chair the 11th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation with his Russian counterpart,  A.E. Serdyukov, the official says.

Besides regional and global security issues, the two sides will review the progress of important projects such as the conversion of the former Admiral Gorshkov carrier, as well as the delivery of frigates and Multi-Role Transport Aircraft.

In the run-up to the meeting, seven sub-groups and two working groups covering all areas of military technical cooperation between the two countries have met and discussed a range of issues pertaining to equipment and technology transfer, product support and other matters, the official says.

Source:AviationWeek

India will ink strategic pact with Afghanistan ahead of US

Amidst deteriorating relations with Pakistan, Afghan president Hamid Karzai is arriving here on Tuesday, scheduled to sign several agreements including a key strategic pact, that possibly involves training of Afghan national army by their Indian counterparts. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will hold discussions with Karzai and host a dinner in his honour. However, all eyes are on Karzai’s private engagement, a lecture on Wednesday in memory of RK Mishra, founder of Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

Sources here say, a bilateral agreement was under discussion to formalise a training programme for Afghan security officials in Indian academies. Both countries are already engaged in intelligence sharing and other security exchanges at the level of the national security advisors. Other agreements include forming working groups on issues of economic cooperation and consultations to forge common positions at the UN and other international bodies.

Significantly, the United States is also negotiating a strategic pact with the Afghan government. Experts believe this agreement may involve securing permanent bases in Afghanistan beyond 2014. They will do special force-style counter-terrorism work and also train the Afghan army.

Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan have deteriorated in the wake of killing of the former president Burhanudin Rabbani, who as chairman of peace council was negotiating with the Taliban. The Afghan intelligence agency has disclosed that Rabbani’s assassination was planned by the Quetta Shura, based in Pakistan. It has also reportedly handed over evidence to this effect to Pakistan.

These developments coincide the rising tensions between Pakistan and the United States, over Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen’s allegations that the Haqqani group is a “veritable arm” of the ISI.

Security expert Arvind Gupta believes that war in Afghanistan was proving to be unbearably expensive for the US at $120 billion in 2010 alone. The US spends about $10 billion on training the Afghan security forces. Obama has asked for $12 billion in the 2012 budget for training the Afghan security forces.

At a panel discussion on Indian options in the war-torn country, at the premier defence think-tank Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), experts advised government to resist any temptation for a direct military involvement in the war torn country. They have asked New Delhi to restrict its role in strengthening the Afghan army and police by way of special training programmes. On the political side, India should support genuine indigenous efforts for national unity even as Afghanistan plunges into a full scale civil war.

The recent killing of Rabbani is believed to the fifth high profile assassination since the killing of Gen. Khan Muhammad Mujahid, the police chief of Kandahar, in April 2011. This was followed by the killing of Gen Daud Daud, a top police commander, in May. Subsequently, Karzai’s half-brother Ahmed Wali Karzai and former governor of Uruzgan province, Jan Muhamamd, were assassinated in July.

Ashok K Behuria, senior fellow at the IDSA maintains that tall these killings are proof of the Taliban’s confidence. He believes this is a precise reason for Taliban not negotiating at a time, when they were wining the battle of nerves in the war-torn country.

INS Vikramaditya Carrier Is 85% Ready

The Indian navy aircraft carrier Vikramaditya is nearing completion at Russia’s Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. Vice Admiral Nadel Niradjan Kumar, chief manager of production and purchase of warships for the Indian navy who inspected Sevmash this week, says the ship is 85% ready and will be handed over to the navy in December 2012.

The navy, meanwhile, is already training a crew for the carrier. The first Indian seamen, 23 electricians and 19 internal communications technicians, out of the 152-man group being trained in Severodvinsk at the moment, completed their 6-month practical training in mid-September, Sevmash reported.

The second batch of 112 crewmen is now studying at the Naval Academy in St. Petersburg and will arrive in Sevmash in early November. By the end of 2012, over 1,000 Indian seamen and officers from Vikramaditya will be trained in Russia, according to Servmash.

The 44,500-ton Kiev-class Vikramaditya (ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov) has been under repairs and modernization at Sevmash for the Indian navy since 2004. The refurbishment included removal of all the weaponry from the ship’s foredeck, which was extended and received a ski-jump for MiG-29K Stobar aircraft operations. Initially Vikramaditya was to be delivered to the Indian navy in 2008, but after the Russian and Indian sides settled a dispute in March 2010 over the increase of the modernization price from $800 million to $2.3 billion, the new delivery date was set for 2012.