BreakingNews: India - Saudi-Arabia: The possibility of strategic missile defense

[Rage]

This was news to me.

Tactical Report, Providers of Intelligence on Middle East Energy and Defence Affairs reports: Indian PM Manmohan Singh paid a visit early this week to Saudi Arabia.His country is said to be offering cooperation with Saudi Arabia on peaceful nuclear programme and strategic missiles. The following 414-word report sheds light on the subject and tells how the Saudis are reacting and how they are approaching cooperation with India either on peaceful nuclear programme or on ballistic missiles:

http://tacticalreport.com/view_news...uclear_programme_and_missile_cooperation/1102


Discuss: The possibilities of cooperation with Saudi Arabia on strategic missile defense and peaceful nuclear programs. Is this feasible or worthwhile? Even possible, given Saudi Arabia's continuing support for jihadist camps in Pakistan? What are the implications for multilateral relations for Saudi Arabia, particularly with the Middle East and Pakistan; and for India, with the West, Iran and Israel. Who benefits from a strategic cooperation in missile defense- and in what proportion? What ancillary geo-political interests of each nation may be served; and which overriden? As also technical considerations, including what aspects of missile defense and civil nuclear cooperation coadjuvancy with Saudi Arabia may serve.

Do not bring issues of non-relevance or egregiousness into this discussion.


Member Request: I'd like this thread to remain separate for a period of 2 weeks please, to discuss the issue in isolation before being merged with the Indo-S Arabia relations thread.

 

[ajtr]

There was talk of civil nuclear and space related co-operation with saudi Arab but as far as strategic missile defense is concerned i never came across any such news item or rather im not too sure about this particular news item.If this is the case what i make of this news is that the purpose of all this is to wean india away from iran.USA and saudis need indian cooperation wrt to iranian nuke related sanctions and coz after china and russia india is the 3rd most bigger business partner for iran.first step in weaning india away from iran started by india moving out of IPI and then india voting against iran at IAEA. And pertaining to missile defence with saudi arabia one has to keep in mind that nothing happens ert to saudi defense without uncle sam's nod.And if really india and saudi arab moved in that direction then i'm sure its coz of usa's hedging.One thing to keep in mind that if this news is true then its a big coup india would have pulled off wrt pakistan.coz untill now protectorate for pakistan's islamic bomb has been saudi arab.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Some questions that come to mind are what will USA say about this since it could be a shot at the MCTR if it is work on ballistic missiles. What will the Israeli and Iran reactions be?n Israeli reaction more importantly since they work on may strategic programs with us like BMD and HSDTV. Why do we need to work with Saudis for our strategic missile program it may be believable if we needed funding but that is not the case now. This article does not seem to be very credible if it was about work with Saudis in a space program or some BMD work possibly, but strategic missiles it seems highly unlikely.

 

[ahmedsid]

The Israelis dont see Saudi Arabia as a threat, all this is like you all mentioned, weaning India away from Iran. I wouldnt mind the co operation as this will give the leverage India has a shot in the arm. Missile Defence is purely defensive, and will in now way prove offensive.

The Chinese have stationed some Medium to Long Range missiles in Saudi I have read, and its just as a detternt to Israeli Missiles. The Chinese missiles must be now very old!!! This might be of interest to us discussing it here.

Lastly, Saudi Is cracking down on Jihadists and financiers along with UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and all. These guys have proven to bite back and its under realisation now, even though Pakistan has started accusing Saudi of funding Terrorists off late after Indian PMs visit! God Speed

 

[LETHALFORCE]

here is some info on the Chinese missiles in Saudi Arabia

http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/missile/saudi.htm

In March 1988, two years after the deal was struck, it was discovered that Saudi Arabia had bought an undisclosed number of CSS-2 "East Wind" intermediate range missiles from China. (1) The number was later put at 50 missiles and nine launchers. (2) According to Assistant Secretary of State Richard Clarke, the missiles were still not operational in late 1989. (3) However, in early June 1990, Flight International reported that, according to Israeli intelligence, the CSS-2 missiles were deployed and operational at two sites: al-Sulaiyil, about 500 km south of Riyadh and al-Joffer, 100 km south of Riyadh. According to the article, each site houses four to six concrete launch pads and stores approximately 60 missiles. (4)

The East Wind's modified range/payload (5) of 2,500 km/2,000 kg (conventional load) brings many countries within striking range, including Israel, the former Soviet Union, and Iran, though the missiles are said to be targeted on Tehran and other Iranian population centers, rather than Israel.The 2.5 km CEP of the CSS-2 missiles, combined with the cost of the purchase (6) has led to a great deal of speculation about Saudi Arabia's intentions. The missiles are far too inaccurate to be used against any point target with either HE or chemical warheads. King Fahd has pledged that Saudi Arabia will not arm the missiles with unconventional warheads nor use them in a first-strike mode. (7) According to a study by the Congressional Research Service, the Reagan administration received an assurance in writing that the Saudis would not obtain or use chemical or nuclear warheads with the CSS-2 missiles. (8) To further allay such fears, Saudi Arabia signed the NPT in April 1988. To date (August 1996), no ballistic missiles other than the CSS-2 are reported to be operational or under development in Saudi Arabia.

None of the CSS-2s was fired during Desert Storm. In an interview with The Washington Times, Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan, acknowledging the inaccuracy of the CSS-2 and its consequent potential for killing civilians, said, "King Fahd ruled out that option [launching the missiles against Iraq] because of the fact that you cannot conrol it [the missiles] accurately. Our problem is that our war was not with the Iraqi people; it was with Saddam Hussein and his clique." (9) However, the multi-billion dollar King Khalid Military City is reported to include nuclear missile silos and nuclear-proofed underground command bunkers with full arming and firing capabilities. (10)

 

[ajtr]

pertaining to Israel----both saudis and israel are cooperating on iran nuclear issue.there were reports of saudis giving nod to israel to use its airspace in case they attack iranian nuke sites.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

This is an interesting development with all the diplomatic moves we have made I can more or less assume that the IPI pipeline is dead.

 

[Yusuf]

If viewed in isolation, huge this in terms of a military sale. Where I doubt the whole thing is the offer made by india. I don't think india could possibly offer missile defence one for it is not operational and second it just doesn't sound right considering the way india goes about its business. We are not that good yet. Actually I am at a loss of words to exactly explain.

Also what will the americans do with PAC3? Why would they allow india a sale?

Israelis are of a lesser concern than iran is diplomatically. If we assume their is a tacit american approval for this, then the israelis are automatically taken care of. also israel and SA have good relationship now. If it was not the case, you would not have seen so much western military hardware coming into SA.

I think the story may well have been planted by those who want to create some diplomatic nightmares. First being pakistan and second to a lesser extent iran. You have to remember iran knows how to live in isolation. No matter how much the US tries, india will not move away from iran completely.