Singhing Putin's Praises

Posted By Peter Williams Friday, March 12, 2010 - 4:47 PM Share

Today Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh met in New Delhi to sign a number of bi-lateral commercial agreements. While the agreements cover a wide variety of topics, including space exploration, fertilizer importation, and commodities trade, nuclear energy and defense are what have received the most attention.

Edging out competition from France and the United States, Russia won contracts to build up to 16 new civilian nuclear power plants in India, six of which are expected to be completed by 2017, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov. This is sure to leave a sour taste in the mouths of many American firms, especially after the success of the 2005 Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement.

Additionally, the two countries signed a multi-billion dollar deal which will see Russia refit Indian aircraft carriers, help India develop transport aircraft, and supply India with 29 new MiG fighter jets.This should leave Russia well positioned to remain India's largest military hardware supplier. Currently, Russia accounts for approximately 60-70% of India's total defense spending. 

While New Delhi's goal of diversifying its energy supplies and moving away from coal may be admirable -- in 2003, coal was estimated to account for almost 70% of India's energy consumption -- you've got to question the wisdom of sinking billions of dollars into improving commercial ties with Russia when your country's per capita GDP puts you in the bottom quartile of the world.  

RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:EASTERN EUROPE, SOUTH ASIA, INDIA, RUSSIA, TRADE
 

BOWMAN

6:16 PM ET

March 12, 2010

"you've got to question the

"you've got to question the wisdom of sinking billions of dollars into improving commercial ties with Russia when your country's per capita GDP puts you in the bottom quartile of the world. "

 

BOWMAN

6:17 PM ET

March 12, 2010

"you've got to question the

"you've got to question the wisdom of sinking billions of dollars into improving commercial ties with Russia when your country's per capita GDP puts you in the bottom quartile of the world. "

Looks like somebody's jeeeeeaaaaalous!

Actually, the quoted bit of idiocy doesn't even make any sense...

 

ROGERMOORE

3:00 AM ET

March 13, 2010

Hypocrisy thy name is .......................... :)

Ah ! You dont mind India spending billions of dollars in improving commercial ties with America. Do you ?

Are you pissed off because the Indians are spending billions of dollars or is it because they are spending billions of dollars to Russians ?

 

SHANK

11:57 AM ET

March 13, 2010

I am not surprised

So Sir!! ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE BUY AMERICAN STUFF THAT ARE RIDDLED WITH BACKDOORS AND MALICIOUS CODES AND ARE LIABLE TO BE UNDER SANCTIONS AND INTERDICT AT THE DROP OF THE HAT?
FAT CHANCE. IT IS TRUE THAT FOR SOME REASON MANMOHAN SINGH IS UNDER YOUR SPELL; BUT ONCE HE IS GONE INDIA WILL BE BACK TO PRACTICAL WAYS.

 

ANDY A

1:43 PM ET

March 13, 2010

Singhing Putin's Praises

Dear author
Wake up. The cold war is over. Russia ia a capitalist nation now as the west wanted. Please focus on the new enemy in the block: China

 

MURTHYB

2:18 PM ET

March 13, 2010

Sour grapes?

This is an idiotic blog post bereft of any usefulness. Firstly the word bilateral does not have a hyphen. Your cutesy title notwithstanding what follows is a mean-spirited diatribe against India. Have you ever heard of free markets? India is free to buy from wherever she can get a better deal (I am sure economic, political and strategic aspects are factored in). Who are you to tell Indians how they should spend their money? The West is hardly in a position to advise others on money matters much less show condescension. Finally, you fail to see India's foreign policy declaration that is all too clear in this deal and you write for FP?

 

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