India on way to become global military power: Experts

johnee

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Certainly India is one of the top military powers today, and will only become stronger in the future.

Imo there are 3 fundamental problems that are holding us back from becoming a truly global power.

Problem #1 :
Our lack of homegrown tech, crippling bureaucracy, lack of vision and focus (etc)

These are issues which with concentrated effort can easily be overcome in a short period of time.
Our close partnerships and big ticket purchases allow us to obtain access to ToT. A politically active middle class and media can force the govt to revamp DRDO. And regular terrorist attacks by maoists, homegrown elements and paks have already resulted in Govt being forced to beef up security.

Problem #2.
Our apprehensions regarding our importance and role in world affairs.

Soon we will be the 3rd largest economy in the world, then what ?
Okay we will be getting boomers, ICBMs and ACs, then what ?
Do we spread democracy or should we improve our selves ?
Do we act like US and try to act like the global watchdog or try to become like China and always look for what's in it for me; or become a pansy like EU ?

We require a reality check, where do we stand and then chart out a roadmap to where we wish to stand.
India is not clear where it stands nor where it wants to stand in the world.
We have no clear strategic doctrine. Our FP is dictated by who soever is in power. There has to be consistency in our FP, and neither is there any will to see things through.

We sign hundreds of treaties with Brazil but few with our neighbours.
We pump in billions in Astan and SL but China bags the lucrative projects.
We exercise with foreign navies but refuse to deploy troops under any banner except UN and still speak of NAM as though it has any relevance.
We are good friends with Saudis yet suffer in silence from Saudi financied terrorism and when they speak against us regarding Kashmir.
We give aid to Palestine and call for a Palestinian State and yet buy weapons from Israel.
We stand for peace and democracy and yet draconian laws are enforced in some of our sensitive states.


Problem #3:
Our Neighbourhood.

India's volatile neighbourhood has kept us so pre-occupied with regional issues that we have had no chance really to even think about becoming a global power.
Chinese incursions, Pakistan sponsored terror attacks, a defiant Maoist Nepal, Chinese activties in SL and Burma, a weary US in Astan, Illegal immigration from Bdesh etc. etc.
India is already 80% of the Subcontinent's economy and the strongest regional power; inspite of this we can't assume a leading, dominating, calming and stabilising role in our own backyard, can we really expect to do so all over the world ?

PS: I don't know what is the obsession of every Indian PM with Pak and Kashmir is this because it is the shortest possible route to ever lasting fame, why does no one want to do things hard way and wait for fame post-mortem ?

The FP wrt to the neighbourhood has to be pragmatic and shouldn't vacillate b/w extremes of dovishness and hawkishness.
MMS - 26/11; ABV - Lahore,Kargil, Mushy.
Great post, Singh.

This must be discussed at DFI, what should be India's goals regional, international...etc in the next 25-50yrs? What should India focus on? What must be our strategies? Who are our potential adversaries and who are the potential allies for this period to accomplish our goals?
Should we discuss it, do members need the feel?
 

Mohan

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India doesnt need any little of global power or superpower.All it wants to do is make sure and convey to the world is that if any one messes around it, will be stung thats all and if its the partnership and co-operation that the world needs we welcome them with open hands. Work to that level quietly. You dont have to be number one in this game. all you need is the potential to do things and dont worry about the rest.
 

Agantrope

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India boosts ties with Africa, expands credit lines
Fri Jan 8, 2010 11:06pm IST Email | Print | Share |


LILONGWE (Reuters) - India will increase credit lines to Africa to $5.4 billion until 2012 from the current $2.15 billion, and will also boost technical and economic support to the continent, it said on Friday.

A delegation led by Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari also signed deals with Malawi to assist the southern African country develop its agriculture, mineral resources and small to medium enterprise sectors.

"The India-Africa forum summit which took place in 2008 has given a new thrust to India's engagement with Africa, as reflected by increases in exiting credit lines to Africa from $2.15 billion to $5.4 billion up until 2012," the delegation said in a statement.

"India has also earmarked a grant of $500 million to Africa in the next 5-6 years as well as an increase in the technical and economic cooperation training slots ... to African countries."

Ansari is on a tour of three Africa countries that took him to Zambia earlier in the week, where India approved a total of $125 million in credit, part of it to finance a key power project. He is due to visit Botswana at the weekend.

On Friday Ansari said India had substantially increased its technical and economic cooperation (ITEC) slots for Malawi to a value of $40 million in 2009 from $5 million.

So far, he said, the southern African state had utilised an Indian line of credit of $30 million for projects in irrigation, grain storage and tobacco threshing.

Official data shows that Malawi's bilateral trade with India has nearly doubled to an estimated $79.7 million in 2007/08 from $43.2 million in 2003/04.

(Reporting by Mabvuto Banda; editing by Toby Chopra)

Link: India boosts ties with Africa, expands credit lines | Top News | Reuters
 

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