DARING ACT OF MODI GOVERNMENT

The JUST stands of India to purchase S-400 (Missile Defence System) from Russia and continue CRUDE OIL import from Iran

In the interests of one and all ...

My dear countrymen!

India must be applauded over its two sane decisions taken recently by Modi-led NDA government. First, by acquiring S-400 surface to Air Defence System from long trustworthy defence ally Russia and second- continuing purchasing crude oil from Iran on possibly convenient rupees term. It will be another feature to its cap if it saves itself from any retaliatory move by America. Of course, they will not like both these deals. And no one in America today can say for sure how unpredictable Trump will react to these decisions.

By such acts, India has killed two birds with one stone. On the one hand, it has revived its old relationships with Russia intact, which was under strain for some years, and open itself free for further such deals like before and almost same with America if India is able to convince America about its compulsions and urgency to take such decisions.

Actually, In international politics today what matters most is interests, not relationships. And it changes with the time and circumstances. Who becomes whose friend and who becomes foe, nothing can be said for sure. This is evident today when we find many surprising deals among rival nations. We see even Israel and China are clinching various deals in their mutual interests nowadays.

Therefore, it is necessary to change course whenever and wherever necessary in national interests like America, Russia, China in Superpowers Category and Israel in mini Category do usually. Not to speak of America or Russia, no country dares to challenge mini country like Israel today.

Ours (India) has been the multi aligned policies and hence we not only have to deal with America, Russia and Israel but also others developed western countries, in matters relating to our multiple needs defence in particular.

Russia relations with India-Pakistan-China now in brief

Actually, immediately after Partition of India in 1947, Russia has been more keen to develop its relationships with Pakistan for its long-term strategic needs and it had taken the initiative in this regard but Pakistan inclined towards America and developed a permanent relationship with them which has started changing towards reverse gear with Trump becoming American President.

Since Pakistan had been engaged with America, Russia has to be interested in India. And Russia, Except in 1962 in India- China war, helped India throughout under Indo-USSR friendship treaty in 1971 and Renewed the Indo- Russia treaty in 1993. 
Some glitches in relationships start developing when India started looking towards America and other European countries to meet its defence needs.

At the same time Russia which was undergoing financial crunch due to American sanctions on it since late February 2014 for its attack on UKRAINE with an annexation of Crimea and indirect interfering in American Election. During these hard time Russia may be expecting some help from India, Since there was no help from India, Russia has started exploring other avenues to fill the wide void, created by India, through Pakistan and with China it had already good relationships since 2004 as their border disputes had been finally resolved.

In fact, in the age of globalisation and the internet world, everything is within the reach of persons even in the remotest areas. Today’s youth have the world open before them and there are tremendous opportunities to create wonders and their first preference has always been to America than Russia for academic pursuits to better job prospects to settle over there permanently.

In fact, Russia is not as rich as America and the west have ample opportunities for everything by virtue of being open liberal societies being democratic countries. While Russia has no such things to offer India, except fulfilling its military-related needs, which obviously India can procure from anywhere else.

Moreover, in the fast-changing challenging situations and in a multi-polar world India can’t depend on one country but many including China for defence and various other needs like permanent membership in UN (United Nations) and NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group). Since Russia and China have already improved relationships between them long back, Pakistan becomes their friend automatically because China has been forever friend of Pakistan and if the three are together in their interests, there will be very precarious situations for India. Because in given situations today, in case of conflicting situations with China and Pakistan, we can’t be sure of Russia’s favour as they also have now become friends.

In such threatening situations, it is necessary for India to collaborate with countries like America and Israel to meet its strategic defence needs.
And at this crucial juncture, Modi government’s surprise move of 5.3 billion US dollars deal with its old ally Russia, for the procurement of S-400 Air Defence Systems, least bothering open threat of US sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) has a great significance.

Same way, Modi government another boldness is seen when India determined to continue purchasing Iranian oil after the deadline of November 4’ 2018 despite threats of American Sanctions, though India has sought for waivers with no guarantee yet from the US.
About a few months ago India through its foreign minister clearly expressed its displeasure over America diktat and said that India would not adhere to unilateral restrictions and continue buying Iranian crude oil. With same comments, China too was said to have rejected American request to cut import from Iran.
Besides, India further wants liberty to use CHABAHAR port, built and developed by it with great painstaking labour and efforts, as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

India has already placed the order through two of its state-owned companies for November onwards supplies though total quantity would be little less than the October’18 quantity. IRAN is one of the three largest suppliers of crude oil and until India gets other suitable replacements, it is bound to import from Iran with reduction to take place only in phased manner according to the policy framed by US administration under President Barack Obama in 2015 before signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) that lifted UN-mandated IRAN sanction. India is also working on alternative modes of payment on easy rupees terms to barter systems in order to ensure regular oil supplies from Iran.

Jai Hind.

Writer- Sinha.P.K. Views expressed are strictly personal. Feedback / Criticism welcome at Email -pkmsinha@gmail.com or follow @ pkmsinha.blogspot.in