Indian delegation explores defense ties with Saudi Arabia

[EjazR]

Indian delegation explores defense ties with Kingdom - Arab News

By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 5, 2011 21:03 Updated: Oct 5, 2011 21:07

RIYADH: A defense delegation from India, which wrapped up its visit to the Kingdom Wednesday, expressed keen interest to build strong bilateral defense ties based on the new strategic realities of Asia and the changing political alliances in the Middle East. “New Delhi, a close ally of Riyadh, looks forward to deepening defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia,” said Manohar Ram, deputy chief of Indian mission, here Wednesday.

Ram said that the 16-member delegation from the National Defense College (NDC) of India called on the senior Saudi officials in Riyadh, visited the local military facilities and discussed a range of issues of common concerns during their four-day stay in the Kingdom. The delegation, headed by Maj. Gen. Bal Krishna Sharma and comprising officers from a few other countries associated with the NDC, were on a study tour in the Kingdom.

Referring to the objectives behind the NDC study tour, Ram said that this trip was designed to promote closer relations between India and Saudi Arabia. In the past few years, India enhanced its military ties with the Gulf states including Saudi Arabia. “We have exchanged visits of our service chiefs and naval ships, and Saudi officers have participated in our training programs, including at the prestigious NDC,” he added.

He said that India had no defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. “However, our defense ties have diversified and become more substantial since the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India,” said the diplomat. Saudi Arabia is also part of the Indian Ocean Naval initiative, which seeks to increase maritime cooperation bilaterally as well as among the navies of the world.

The NDC, located in New Delhi, is an institution of higher learning of the defense forces of India and is the only military institution that imparts knowledge on all aspects of national security and strategy. It also offers training to security personnel from other countries.

The Indian Armed Forces are one of the world’s largest military forces, with roughly 1.32 million active standing army and 2.14 million reserve forces, thus giving India the third-largest active troops in the world. India is the world’s largest arms importer accounting for nine percent of all global imports. Its defense expenditure will be around US$112 billion by 2016.

 

[Alchemy]

India needs deep all round relationship with all central Asian and middle eastern countries . It calls for sound relationship on equal sovereign terms !!!

 

[HZR2011]

defence ties with arabia

 

[Veeru]

Good news we need to develop deeper defence ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkey to isolate our enemy.

 

[SpArK]

Plan C.............

 

[StormShadow]

defence ties with arabia

What's wrong?

 

[Tshering22]

What's wrong?

The entire prospect. Here is why:

- Our defense manufacturing isn't that high standard alongside US and Russian standards because of it being managed by an anti-national governmental framework.

- Saudi won't be buying anything from us apart from maybe Dhruvs which they don't need since they don't have extreme mountains that needs Dhruv in place but instead choose European and American platforms.

- They'd likely be coming to train in Indian military academies because let's face it; they need to learn about modern combat in extreme environments with limited technology. Vice Versa doesn't happen.

- Again coming to defense manufacturing, HAL has to disband, DRDO has to close down and ADA, NAL etc have to all give their company to private players if at all success and right timely equipment is wanted seriously by our tri-services. Under government auspices, the defense industry (except ISRO) will work just like a common Sarkari daak ghar works-- slow, inept, outdated, lethargic and corrupt.

Before that restructuring of approach towards self-reliance, we won't get many clients in middle east for our weapons. Oman is one but their foreign policy is not so Western dependent.

Until we start solving point 1 and point 4 here... nothing will work out.

 

[harpoon]

^^ KSA can buy anything they want(except for strategic weapons ) from US Europe and even from China. Unless we have something to sell its useless to go around 'exploring defense ties'. Just maintain friendly ties, thats all.

 

[SpArK]

Defence ties doesnt necessarily mean buy-sell.

 

[nForce]

hmm. Manmohan Singh seems to be on a relation making drive these days...Vietnam,Uzbekistan,Mongolia,Afghanistan and now Saudi Arabia.Good development.......

 

[kanpur]

The entire prospect. Here is why:

- Our defense manufacturing isn't that high standard alongside US and Russian standards because of it being managed by an anti-national governmental framework.

- Saudi won't be buying anything from us apart from maybe Dhruvs which they don't need since they don't have extreme mountains that needs Dhruv in place but instead choose European and American platforms.

- They'd likely be coming to train in Indian military academies because let's face it; they need to learn about modern combat in extreme environments with limited technology. Vice Versa doesn't happen.

- Again coming to defense manufacturing, HAL has to disband, DRDO has to close down and ADA, NAL etc have to all give their company to private players if at all success and right timely equipment is wanted seriously by our tri-services. Under government auspices, the defense industry (except ISRO) will work just like a common Sarkari daak ghar works-- slow, inept, outdated, lethargic and corrupt.

Before that restructuring of approach towards self-reliance, we won't get many clients in middle east for our weapons. Oman is one but their foreign policy is not so Western dependent.

Until we start solving point 1 and point 4 here... nothing will work out.

privatization of defence industry is the only solution take the example of the M&M which within very few time developed small aircraft for export purpose.

 

[Tshering22]

privatization of defence industry is the only solution take the example of the M&M which within very few time developed small aircraft for export purpose.

I'd say get the DRDO scientists and engineers to work on private payrolls. Good salaries, good incentives, respect and prominent positions would give them a big moral booster to work hard, fast and decisively. Even now, its not the engineers and scientists that are delaying work; it is the sarkari managers and "controllers" who mismanage and delay processes.

 

[nomi007]

Saudi can't expand defense relation with India due to Pakistan
we have deep defense relations even some foreign media is talking about pak-saudia atomic bomb

 

[karan.1970]

Saudi can't expand defense relation with India due to Pakistan
we have deep defense relations even some foreign media is talking about pak-saudia atomic bomb

LOL.. First Afghanistan cant have any independent foreign policy. Now SA.. Looks like too much of a feeling of self grandeur

 

[cyphercide]

You guys are missing the bigger picture.Friendly ties with all NATO allies as well as close friends of the United States will help India deriving the benefits of being a NATO ally while not signing unfair pacts like CISMOA in the process.The United States still throws a spanner into India's defence contracts as last seen in the Americans vetoing Israel's request to sell the Arrow 2 missiles to India.

That's how Australia handles it's defence protocols albeit being just an outsider(contact country).Nobody raises an eyebrow if Australia wishes and procures the latest in military inventory because NATO allies or close friends of the United States like Saudi Arabia(considered to be it's global partner)have no reason to question such an acquisition.

India would do well to follow in those footsteps.