Rise of Russia(?)

[nrupatunga]

Russia Shores Up Control Over Black Sea Region With New Treaty

Russia tightened its control Monday over Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia with a new treaty envisaging closer military and economic ties with the lush sliver of land along the Black Sea.

The move drew outrage and cries of "annexation" in Georgia and sent a chill through those in Abkhazia who fear that wealthy Russians will snap up their precious coastline. It also raised further suspicions in the West about Russian President Vladimir Putin's territorial aspirations after his annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in March.

Under the treaty signed by Putin and Abkhazia's leader in the nearby Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russian and Abkhazian forces in the territory will turn into a joint force led by a Russian commander.

Russian troops have been deployed in Abkhazia for more than two decades since the region of 240,000 people broke away from Georgia in a separatist war in the early 1990s. Still, Monday's agreement reflected a clear attempt by Moscow to further expand its presence and came only after a change of leadership in the territory.

Coming amid a chill in Russia-West ties over the Ukrainian crisis, the deal raised concern about Moscow's plans. The Black Sea region has always been important for Putin, who justified the annexation of Crimea by saying it would guarantee that NATO warships would never be welcome on the peninsula, the home base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

NATO's secretary-general condemned the treaty, stressing that the alliance supports Georgia's sovereignty. He also called on Russia to reverse its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another breakaway province, as independent states.

The U.S. also said it wouldn't recognize Russia's move and expressed continued support for Georgia's sovereignty. The Georgian Foreign Ministry denounced the new agreement as a "step toward the de-facto annexation" of Abkhazia and called on the international community to condemn the move.

 

[DingDong]

Russia Shores Up Control Over Black Sea Region With New Treaty

India must adopt similar strategy against the foreign powers poking their nose in our region (including Russia). South Asia has to be sanitized.

 

[sob]

While Putin does have a very large support in Russia, his policies have left the country in a terrible situation.

Basing your economy solely on Oil is a sure recipe for disaster. With Oil prices plunging to US $ 80 and expected to go down further Russia is already looking at a losses of nearly US $ 100 Billion. Currency has tanked nearly 25% against USD in the last 3 months and with reserves of only US$ 370 Billion coupled with the sanctions- situation is very grim for the Russian economy.

 

[Virendra]

With the West arm twisting Russia by leveraging the Oil dependence, the latter willl increasingly huddle with China to fight it out.
Once the NATO-US pull out from Afghanistan, we might see a resurgence of TAPI pipeline talks.
A lot of MENA disturbances (springs if you want to call them) have been linked with West-Arab nexus of Oil politics.
We live in interesting days of World intrigue.

Regards,
Virendra

 

[sgarg]

While Putin does have a very large support in Russia, his policies have left the country in a terrible situation.

Basing your economy solely on Oil is a sure recipe for disaster. With Oil prices plunging to US $ 80 and expected to go down further Russia is already looking at a losses of nearly US $ 100 Billion. Currency has tanked nearly 25% against USD in the last 3 months and with reserves of only US$ 370 Billion coupled with the sanctions- situation is very grim for the Russian economy.

Russia has a fairly substantial industrial base. It is not a country like Saudi Arabia.
It is a good thing to have minerals. Natural resources are important to several countries, why single out Russia.

 

[sgarg]

@mattster

Correction. If you want to understand how most Americans who read The New York Times feel about Crimea & etc.

NYT readers tend to have a left-progressive point of view, as does that paper..

What is your opinion, military wise, of the events in Ukraine?

 

[sob]

Russia has a fairly substantial industrial base. It is not a country like Saudi Arabia.
It is a good thing to have minerals. Natural resources are important to several countries, why single out Russia.

Please let me know what is the industrial base of Russia we are talking about, apart from the defence industry. Nobody wants to touch their civilian aircraft.
Presently their farm sector has recorded a huge drop in production. They need to import almost 60 to 70% of their foodstuff requirement.

 

[jouni]

Putin's far-right ambition: Think-tank reveals how Russian President is wooing – and funding – populist parties across Europe to gain influence in the EU - Europe - World - The Independent

Russia is funding far right and populist parties in Europe. Same time she is warning Russians about the rise of "nazism".... talk about double standards.

 

[sgarg]

Please let me know what is the industrial base of Russia we are talking about, apart from the defence industry. Nobody wants to touch their civilian aircraft.
Presently their farm sector has recorded a huge drop in production. They need to import almost 60 to 70% of their foodstuff requirement.

Can you support your argument with data?? You are influenced by propaganda.
No country produces everything. This simply does not happen in today's globalized economy.

 

[asianobserve]

Putin's far-right ambition: Think-tank reveals how Russian President is wooing – and funding – populist parties across Europe to gain influence in the EU - Europe - World - The Independent

Russia is funding far right and populist parties in Europe. Same time she is warning Russians about the rise of "nazism".... talk about double standards.

From the Czech Counter-Intelligence:

Prague - Russian and Chinese independent spies often come to the Czech Republic disguised as academics, tourists and businesspeople, operating alongside the agents covered by diplomacy, according to the annual report of the BIS counter-intelligence service for 2013 and released today.

"When it comes to the Russian diplomatic mission, in 2013, too, the number of intelligence officers under diplomatic cover was extremely high. It was complemented by the agents who travel to the Czech Republic independently as tourists, experts, academics and businesspeople," the report said.

The agents from Russia and China mainly want to stabilise and increase their influence, it added.

The eastern agents have an important partner for "open, semi-secret and secret influence operations" in selected Czechs who help them consciously or unconsciously, the report said.

"When building access and influence networks in the Czech Republic, journalists, civil servants, lobbyists, networking organisations and employers and employees's organisations are important," it added.

Czech counter-intelligence warns of Russian, Chinese spies - ČeskéNoviny.cz

 

[asianobserve]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/busin...hina-wont-reshape-russian-economy/500636.html

Russia's Pivot to China Won't Reshape Russian Economy

Analysts interviewed by the Moscow Times said China can become a good-enough, if imperfect, replacement for the EU in most sectors of Russia's economy, including petroleum exports, technology and investment.

But an alliance with a developing nation would only solidify the economic status quo, they warned, doing nothing for Russia's chances of moving beyond a commodity economy.

Also, embracing China as its sole economic ally risks giving Beijing de facto control of the Russian economy — though that can be avoided if Moscow remembers to diversify its economic ties.

 

[sgarg]

Russia's Pivot to China Won't Reshape Russian Economy | Business | The Moscow Times

The first objective is to replace Western imports. It is clear that it will not increase Russia's competitiveness.

The objective should be to protect Russia's manufacturing base while importing items not produced locally.

We all know that China is the beneficiary of West's actions in Ukraine. However this situation can not be changed in the short run. Some times short term objectives transcend long term objectives.

Russia should also look for sources in other BRICS countries and elsewhere. The idea is to reinforce supply chain for each major item needed by the economy including military economy.

I think Russians are doing this exercise. Russia also needs distributed manufacturing for its own military needs. Russia should be able to source components from abroad for its own equipment.

 

[sob]

Can you support your argument with data?? You are influenced by propaganda.
No country produces everything. This simply does not happen in today's globalized economy.

What data are you talking about?

Russians at one point of time were big on steel plant and power plant equipment but today companies would prefer Chinese equipment over Russian equipment.

Even our own NTPC had to to change almost all Russian equipment t their Kehelgaon plant and replace it with either Indian or European equipment.
They do supply some huge turbines for power plants but beyond that I do not see any major engineering export from Russia.

You need to see the reality. Their military -industrial complex is very good but beyond that-nada.

 

[sgarg]

@sob, you study Russian data and then present it. Not able to export does not mean they do not make anything.
Study Russian industrial data, structure of economy etc.

 

[sob]

If you do not have anything to present let us not discuss on this topic. Topic closed from my side-- thanks

 

[sgarg]

If you do not have anything to present let us not discuss on this topic. Topic closed from my side-- thanks

You offer an argument and then you present no evidence. Then you ask me to give data. It is your job to support your argument with data.

Check this - a very good source for bird eye view: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/countrytemplate_rs.html

The Russian industrial output is 36% of GDP for Russia. This shows the country is heavily industrialized.

The same is 25.8% for India. Now India's GDP and Russia's GDP are comparable. So Russia's industrial output is 200 billion dollars more than India.

 

[sob]

Dear friend the problem with statistics is that they are just numbers. Take away oil and gas and let us see where the Russian economy is. We are seeing the effect of low oil prices on the economy. As per leading economists the Russian economy has taken a US $ 100 billion hit this year and today KSA just screwed them again. Oil is heading below US$ 70.

This is an economy which was on a booster dose of high commodity prices nothing else.

I have worked in the Industry for almost 20 years and today I see there is no sector from Tea to textiles to steel to power which is ready to accept Russian equipment. As I said earlier the sector where they are very strong is the defence/space sector.

You are comparing Russian economy to the Indian economy, that is no comparison. We stand nowhere in the world, our share of the global trade is not even 5%. In terms of per capita GDP Russia is no 77 in the world.

 

[sgarg]

@sob, can you provide breakup of Russian industrial numbers if you are so sure of your argument??

What is Russia's population?? It is 1/7th of India, but its GDP is more than India. You believe that is purely due to oil and gas??

Why Saudi Arabia GDP one third of India??

 

[sob]

Just for your information

As of 2012 oil and gas sector accounted for 16% of the GDP, 52% of federal budget revenues and over 70% of total exports.

Annual exports of Russia are over US $ 500 billion.

so when I say that the Rouble is tanking, oil prices are dropping drastically, Dollar repayments are coming up-- this all combines to say that Russia is in deep shit. Since 2010 GDP is contracting. Last year it grew by just 1.3% and for the first 3 quarters it was just 0.8%.

And also for your information they are also the largest exporters of raw uncut diamond in the world.

 

[sgarg]

@sob, can you give details of industrial production (-) your opinions.

I did not ask for export figures. Please give sector wise industrial production figures.