Who is the real ally of India

[Virendra]

During a heated debate in parliament before the 1962 Sino-Indian war, Prime Minister Nehru declared that he favored peace over war with China, making it clear that he was willing to negotiate with the Communist nation till the bitter end to resolve border disputes.

Shortly thereafter, India's pacifist founding leader got the shock of his life when his "brotherly" neighbor invaded his country, shattering Nehru's view that by befriending China he could reduce the likelihood of its expansionism.

Despite having that memory still fresh in their minds, Indian leaders even today would reiterate Nehru's pledge. However, the vexing question is: What is the prudent strategy for India in a new world that is certain to see China's rise and U.S. attempts to contain it?

India's decision will greatly depend on how China plays its cards. China's behavior, on the other hand, will be dictated by India's economic and military conditions. A strong India would make China more willing to be flexible; a feeble democracy could tempt it to be bellicose.

To be sure, few expect India and China to plunge into a war, at least in the short-run.

When I asked Henry Kissinger last November if China could attack India in the next 25 years, he dismissed the possibility outright. "Stakes are too high," the former U.S. secretary of state said, adding there is nothing to be gained by either side.

Nehru made an even more dire observation 50 years ago: A military conflict involving two great countries like India and China would mean "indefinite" war because neither would give in and neither could conquer the other.

Still, given the new world reality India today finds itself between a rock and a hard place: China versus United States. To some, the choice is easy, but there are others who face a harsh agony ....

Full article is at - Who is India's real ally? » Indian Defence Review
and contemplates on US and China one by one.

 

[trackwhack]

As long as we feel the need for allies, we will not be strong. Others should feel the need to ally with us. And in the future big three - US, China and India, there cannot be allies. It is heading towards a tripolar world with regional dominance and an uneasy peace.

Having said that, I see Japan and Israel as being strong allies of India within the next two decades. But both these counties will need to wiggle out of the American poodle pen.

 

[spikey360]

The real ally of India was the Soviet Union. After its fall, Russia is, a military-industrial ally, and it has limited itself to that till now.

Other than that, Bharatvarsh had no natural allies like Israel has in United States and US in western Europe. Mainly because Bharatvarsh is unique and we are historically not related to them in any way, save for the past few centuries of British occupation.
India will not have any allies either, we will have to fight all our wars ourselves and we are strong enough, big enough a power to do that. Friendships, yes. But no need to beg others for alliance.

 

[Virendra]

Having said that, I see Japan and Israel as being strong allies of India within the next two decades. But both these counties will need to wiggle out of the American poodle pen.

That is not going to happen. China is coming up fast.
Coming back to India, I agree with Spikey that we should in long term curb the craving for allies if we're to stand on our own at the grand stage.

 

[panduranghari]

That is not going to happen. China is coming up fast.
Coming back to India, I agree with Spikey that we should in long term curb the craving for allies if we're to stand on our own at the grand stage.

To stand on our own on the grand stage we need internal unity. Its hard to achieve. Its easier for China as the attitude is instilled by central authority, its easy for USA as they still are inherrently Christian in their belief, its just as easy for Israel as the idea of threat to a Jewish state is a rallying call for all jews to pick up arms.

 

[Nagraj]

No one.
we are on our own.

Period.

 

[Virendra]

To stand on our own on the grand stage we need internal unity. Its hard to achieve. Its easier for China as the attitude is instilled by central authority, its easy for USA as they still are inherrently Christian in their belief, its just as easy for Israel as the idea of threat to a Jewish state is a rallying call for all jews to pick up arms.

India and China are two different species in many ways. Both have different stories.
We will shine or fail in our own ways and they will in theirs. None can improvise by copying the other.
Unity as we have today at the socio-cultural level is almost good enough. Politically we've always been divided. Perhaps we were even more before.
So looking down in history, I don't think we need a radical change here. At least not in the binding factors.
China has its unilateral Hannish synchronization to achieve stability and direction. Well, good for them. But for India, diversity and plurality has worked instead.
I think we don't need to swap at all. We can continue walking our own paths and yet reach the destination.

Regards,
Virendra

 

[The Messiah]

We have many allies....ourselves!

 

[thakur_ritesh]

I won't go by terminology because that is too bureaucratic a way of defining things. If at all anything, there are partner nations whose importance varies.

In military matters, there isn't anyone more important to India than Russia, then in the importance of layering figures in Israel, followed by France, the US, the UK, and the regional set up.

On matters related to strategic issues, it has to be the US with its set of allies on top closely followed by the Russians. Then follow the rest. China also figures in here and has an important role to play.

In terms of economics, the US followed by the EU are our the 2 most important partners, then comes the West-Asia, China, Japan, ASEAN, regional nations, Africa, Australia, and then somewhere come the CARs, Russia and Latin America.

Without a shred of doubt, the two most important partner nations and in the order of their important to India are the US and Russia. The author makes it sound as if the partnership with the US is the start and end of all, there is absolutely no such thing either with the US or Russia. And it isn't just a coincidence that both these countries want to forge even stronger relations with India. India has its own very strong worth for them to see India in that light and push for such relations.

On the issue of grand standing, well that doesn't happen in isolation but there are always others who function as supporting partners. The importance of these countries shouldn't be underestimated nor overlooked. Anyway, before all that, India ought to put its house in order and also the immediate neighbourhood, else we can only dream on!

 

[HeinzGud]

Sri Lanka. I guess!

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Large nations usually do not have "allies" many times the allies are bought like in NATO
with USA doing the financing or lackeye's economic disasters like N.korea and Pakistan
for China. Real allies can be defined in 2 different ways economically and militarily(or both).

 

[Sher Malang]

Stay cautious with western countries and have good relations with neighbors.

 

[LurkerBaba]

Stay cautious with western countries and have good relations with neighbors.

Welcome to the forum

 

[trackwhack]

Sri Lanka. I guess!

We are going to annexe you in the coming decade or two. Go on, keep needling us by cozying up to the chinese. All we need is an excuse.

 

[chase]

Stay cautious with western countries and have good relations with neighbors.

Welcome to the forum and please introduce yourself in the welcome forum

 

[W.G.Ewald]

We are going to annexe you in the coming decade or two. Go on, keep needling us by cozying up to the chinese. All we need is an excuse.

Sometimes you have to laugh at an an inappropriate post

 

[Rage]

India is the real ally of India.

 

[Nagraj]

look into mirror .
u will find u r biggest ally.

 

[SADAKHUSH]

We need to strengthen internally and attract like minded countries from around the world to be our allies on the basis of common principals with in our society but at the same time look out for those nations who want to destablise our internal unity which can only be achieved when we have competent political leadership at the center.
Therefore, I call upon all the Indians to put your nation ahead of your interest and do not compromise the most important principal of life that is "honesty" which should be practised at all the times.

 

[mayfair]

There are nor permanent allies and antagonists in geopolitics. A case in example, Britain, France and Germany...Britain and Spain...US and Japan...

All alliances are associations of convenience..as long as there is greater mutual benefit in being allies than antagonists, alliances will stay.