India China tension: With whom is Russia?

Posted on 25th Jun 2020 by rohit kumar

India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to Russia. During this time he will hold talks with Russian military officials and will participate in a grand military parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the second world war.

 

This is the first foreign visit of a senior Union minister after the four-month ban on travel in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic.

 

This visit of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Russia is taking place at a time when India's deadlock with China in Ladakh continues.

 

Before leaving for Moscow on Monday, Rajnath Singh made a tweet. He wrote that "I am leaving for Moscow on a three-day visit. This visit will provide an opportunity for dialogue to strengthen the Indo-Russian defense and strategic partnership".

 

Senior officials of the Indian Ministry of Defense say that 'despite tensions on the border with China, the Defense Minister did not postpone the visit to Russia as India has decades-old military ties with Russia and the Defense Minister has both with Russia's higher officials Many meetings are going to be held to increase military cooperation between the countries.

 

This visit of the Defense Minister is being seen in the Indian media as an attempt to increase India's military capability. Many newspapers have written that 'India's defense minister has gone to Russia to make his weapons fully effective and to increase their firepower, so that China can be attacked', in ongoing embattlement with China over the Ladakh LAC.

 

But analysts believe that 'the Indian government has woken up late, and due to the Covid-19 epidemic, it will now take additional time to deliver arms and defense systems from Russia to India. But as soon as possible, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will deal with Russia for its delivery.

 

Defense deals delayed from Russia

Vinay Shukla, a senior journalist present in Moscow, told the BBC that "India has been avoiding many important defense deals for a very long time. Sometimes it is said that there is no money, sometimes some other reason is given. Like multi. In the case of utility helicopters, Russia said that 60 helicopters should be ready and 140 helicopters will be built in India. And they have not been decided on since 2014. "

 

According to Vinay Shukla "If India had these (ambulance) helicopters, then the soldiers who died due to lack of medical help in the Galvan Valley could have been saved easily".

 

He explained, "It is not the only defense deal with helicopters, there is an agreement to make rifles with Russia, then Russia completes the action of Fataf Joint Venture, also built a factory near Amethi, it was also trapped in the bureaucracy. Sukhoi and Mig aircraft are the backbone of the Indian Air Force, but their buying process is also stuck. And until the trouble comes, they remain stuck. So the person who is investing and giving his technique is not valued. The matter has been put before the current government of India from Russia and investors have also raised questions on the seriousness of the government. So the delay is due to the Indian government. "

 

Russia's S-400 Defense System

The S-400 defense system is also being discussed since Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh left for Russia.

 

Some media reports claimed that 'Russia has pushed forward the delivery date of this defense system which is a matter of concern for India'.

 

The government of India wants to buy 'S-400: Long Range Surface to Air Missile System' to be built in Russia. This missile can hit the air from the ground. The S-400 is considered to be the world's most effective air defense system. There are many things in it. For example, the S-400 can hit 36 ​​locations simultaneously.

 

China already has this defense system which they have received from Russia itself.

 

But why delay in getting this defense system to India? Explaining this, Vinay Shukla said, "America had threatened that if India bought this system from Russia, it would ban India. This scared the Indian banks, especially the banks whose money is engaged in trade with America." So I had to talk to the Indian banks who are not in danger from America. This spoiled the time and the advance payment of S-400 was delayed. Although Russia is saying that it is still trying to give it to India as soon as possible. Will do. "

 

Shukla explained that "before China, Russia offered India its long-range surface to air missile system 'S-400'. But India agreed to buy it only when China bought it. China in terms of weapons There is a lot of dependence on Russia. China tried a lot to copy the engine of fighter jets made in Russia, but they could not be made like the ones made by Russians. So China has to get their license. And Russia controls this Will always keep it in your hands. "

 

"For example, Russia has given the S-400 to China, but it is not the system it is going to give to India. Russia says that China has given the S-400 to protect itself from America, their Range is short. But India will be given the longest-range missiles of S-400. "

 

It is expected that at the end of this visit of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, an official notice will be given about 'India getting S-400 defense system'.

 

India and Russia relations

According to senior officials of the Indian Ministry of Defense, "The visit of the Defense Minister is also an opportunity to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, apart from the India-Russia defense partnership".

 

A common understanding of relations with Russia in India is that 'there are historical relations between the two countries and if India quarrels with any country, Russia will come to help India'.

 

But according to Professor Harsh Pant, an international affairs expert and head of the Strategic Study Program at the Observer Research Foundation, things are not so flat.

 

According to Professor Harsha, 'Russia has a good understanding that India is a democratic country, whereas China is a totalitarian or, say, a country with a kind of dictatorship, so Russia considers its relationship with India more loving and this is what India and Russia The basis of old-close relationship. But the situation has changed in the last decade, it has been seen that Russia's relations with China are becoming stronger.

 

He says, "The situation is not less challenging for Russia either. The population is less than Pakistan and the area is much more which extends from Europe to Asia. Then America builds base around the world, but the challenge is for Russia That there is such a large area to be protected with the help of technology and he cannot tolerate an atmosphere of enmity around his borders. Russia does not want tension at the eastern border of Russia which meets China and China enjoys this advantage. Raises. On the other hand, Russia's America and its allies also pulls from some European countries. In such a situation, Russia also has limited options. "

 

"Here India is trying to bring new dimensions to the relationship with Russia, because the relationship between the two countries has remained only related to the defense, and differences of the two countries have increased in places, such as India on the strategy of Indo-Pacific. More China and Russia are close to each other. That is why negotiations between India and Russia are very important. India would also like Russia to put some pressure on China to keep China calm in Ladakh. "

 

The Indian Ambassador in Moscow had also put India's concerns before Russia some time ago and Russia had given full assurance that if India's dispute with China increases, all efforts will be made to resolve it peacefully.

 

How is the relationship between China and Russia

According to senior journalist Vinay Shukla, 'Russia has believed that a multi-polar world should be created, but China has an old ideological difference with Russia in this matter and China somewhere considers Russia closer to India. At the same time, if there is a conflict between China and India, then the international situation of Russia will also be affected, Russia understands this. It is in the minds of the people in the power of Russia that from the day India broke, Russia will be the most troubled by China because the dominance of the Soviet Union in Central Asia, which was once the Soviet Union, gradually took place. is.'

 

According to Professor Harsh, it has come to the fore that 'Today when Russia and China stand together, Russia seems smaller.'

 

He says, "There is a lot of trade between the two countries now, but today the relationship between the two is such that Russia is ready to stand happily with China even as a number-2 or small partner. This also makes Russia There is no objection because he considers America to be a bigger problem and he is also willing to take help from China to manage it. But here the problem for India is a bit different because Russia after being knocked out by China. With the help of India, India wants to create a balance of power between the three countries. "

 

According to Vinay Shukla, there is a provision in the treaties between Russia and India that if there is a challenge for the security of both countries, then both countries will consult each other. The defense minister's visit to Russia can also be seen from this perspective.

 

Can Russia put pressure on China for India?

One section on social media believes that at the behest of India, Russia can 'threaten' China and control it.

 

Professor Harsh does not agree with this. According to him, 'Russia is a weak power, which desperately needs China's help to stand up. Russia's economic condition is bad, in which it needs help from China. In such a situation, India should see with open eyes that India may be an important partner for Russia, but it is not in a position to unilaterally support India.

 

They say that "Russia will also use diplomatic language like other countries."

 

Harsh Pant also says that 'If there is increased tension or a minor war between India and China, then the usefulness of Russia will be immense because India has a large number of Russian weapons and machines, and Russia is very much in servicing and repair. It Will be needed, therefore, India does not have the option to make Russia angry.