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> This is a line even the Soviets and Chinese respected Partly because they were on the other side. It's different here (if true) because, as the BBC points ou

by lainga 3y ago

> This is a line even the Soviets and Chinese respected Partly because they were on the other side. It's different here (if true) because, as the BBC points out - "Western powers would have to make a choice between backing Ottawa or New Delhi, a choice between supporting the principle of the rule of law or the hard necessity of realpolitik." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66856568 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66856568

senkora 3y ago
India isn’t really an ally of the west. For example, it was historically non-aligned but on friendly terms with the Soviet Union: > In 1954, the United States made Pakistan a Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) ally. As a result, India cultivated strategic and military relations with the Soviet Union to counter Pakistan–United States relations.[2] In 1961, India became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement to abstain from aligning with either the US or the USSR in the Cold War. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/India–United_States_relations https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/India–United_States_relation... Pakistan is/was a closer and more reliable ally for the United States. For another example where India disregarded the interests of the west: > In 1970, Indira Gandhi enacted legislation which barred medical products from being patented in the country. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_industry_in_India https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_industry_in_I... Of course, India would seem to be a natural ally given that both countries are committed democracies and there is massive immigration from India to the United States, but in practice the United States likes the reliability of less-democratic states and India likes to control its own affairs and is powerful enough to do so. So it goes.
- eureka-belief 3y ago
  True that India isn’t strictly an ally of the west. And even now India is importing oil from Russia. Though, I’d say much of these differences with the west are not ideological as much as the result of India applying realpolitik to their geographic circumstances. And after being screwed by the British for centuries, India doesn’t feel like owes any favors to the west. If India were located in Europe, without needing to deal with Pakistan and China, I think they’d have a lot in common with other European nations. I know that’s a bold claim. At least on paper, Indias government was formed based on principle of equality and self-determination. Obviously, populism and corruption have caused the government to veer slightly off course, but India is nothing like countries like Russia or China, at least.
  - hollerith 3y ago
    >If India were located in Europe, without needing to deal with Pakistan and China Because of the Himalayas, China can't interfere with India any more than it could if India were in Europe. (Yes, I know about the recent deadly skirmishes on their shared border. They involved small numbers of soldiers and even getting large numbers of soldiers to the border would be arduous, let alone anything like a tank.)

by lainga 3y ago

senkora 3y ago

India isn’t really an ally of the west. For example, it was historically non-aligned but on friendly terms with the Soviet Union: > In 1954, the United States made Pakistan a Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) ally. As a result, India cultivated strategic and military relations with the Soviet Union to counter Pakistan–United States relations.[2] In 1961, India became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement to abstain from aligning with either the US or the USSR in the Cold War. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/India–United_States_relations https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/India–United_States_relation... Pakistan is/was a closer and more reliable ally for the United States. For another example where India disregarded the interests of the west: > In 1970, Indira Gandhi enacted legislation which barred medical products from being patented in the country. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_industry_in_India https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_industry_in_I... Of course, India would seem to be a natural ally given that both countries are committed democracies and there is massive immigration from India to the United States, but in practice the United States likes the reliability of less-democratic states and India likes to control its own affairs and is powerful enough to do so. So it goes.

eureka-belief 3y ago
True that India isn’t strictly an ally of the west. And even now India is importing oil from Russia. Though, I’d say much of these differences with the west are not ideological as much as the result of India applying realpolitik to their geographic circumstances. And after being screwed by the British for centuries, India doesn’t feel like owes any favors to the west. If India were located in Europe, without needing to deal with Pakistan and China, I think they’d have a lot in common with other European nations. I know that’s a bold claim. At least on paper, Indias government was formed based on principle of equality and self-determination. Obviously, populism and corruption have caused the government to veer slightly off course, but India is nothing like countries like Russia or China, at least.
- hollerith 3y ago
  >If India were located in Europe, without needing to deal with Pakistan and China Because of the Himalayas, China can't interfere with India any more than it could if India were in Europe. (Yes, I know about the recent deadly skirmishes on their shared border. They involved small numbers of soldiers and even getting large numbers of soldiers to the border would be arduous, let alone anything like a tank.)