Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

PLAN Sailors ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons Source- The National Interest Author- Patrick M. Cronin China’s reemergence as a wealthy and powerful nation is a fact. In recent decades its rise has been unprecedented, moving from the tenth-largest economy in 1990, to the sixth-largest economy in 2001, to the second-largest economy in 2010. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China now surpasses the United States in terms of purchasing power parity. By the same measure, China’s economy was only half the size of America’s a decade earlier, and it is this trajectory that is molding assumptions about the future regional power balance and order across the Indo-Pacific. Recent declines in growth and rising questions about future stability have yet to alter most perceptions about tomorrow’s China. China’s deepening integration with the regional and global economy underscore the difficulty of pushing back when China transgresses rules and norms. Take the issu

Ashton Carter Source- The National Interest Author- Shashank Joshi After a week of swirling rumors, Ashton Carter, the deputy defense secretary from 2011-2013, has been all-but-announced as President Barack Obama's nominee for secretary of defence. Although Carter now needs to get confirmed, and will face particularly strong grilling on his views on US strategy in Iraq and Syria, it looks as though his confirmation will be a great deal smoother than Hagel's tortuous process: Carl Levin, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has said “he would be a great choice,” and Levin's successor come January, John McCain, has expressed approval. India will be watching Carter's path through Congress with particular interest. On Wednesday, the Indian news agency IANS headlined its report “India friend Ashton Carter is Obama pick.” The New York Times' South Asia bureau chief called Carter “one of India's favorite US officials,” the defense journ

Tanks from Tata Motors, torpedoes from Pipavav http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/tanks-from-tata-motors-torpedoes-from-pipavav/15875/

Happy navy day to all my brothers and sisters in the Indian navy

Rafale ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ Airwolfhound) Source- The Diplomat Author- Ankit Panda Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar hosted his French counterpart in New Delhi earlier this week. The two ministers agreed to put the issue of concluding a deal on India’s acquisition of 126 French Rafale fighter jets on a “fast track.” The deal is expected to cost India upwards of $15 billion and will fulfill India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contract which was awarded to France’s Dassault Aviation for the Rafale fighter in 2011 over several other bidders. Parrikar and French Defense Minister Yves Le Drian agreed to accelerate negotiations after over two years of delays. Le Drian described his meeting with Parrikar as “positive.” “All issues related to defense were discussed, including the Rafale,” Indian defense ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said. “Both sides decided to adopt a fast-track approach wherever there are differences.” “We can say this

Image credits- Wikipedia Commons/ Igor Dvurekov Source- The Russia & India Report Author-  Petr Topychkanov The visit to Pakistan by a large delegation from the Russian Ministry of Defence, led by Sergey Shoygu last month once again showed a particular weakness in Russia-India relations, and in particular, government and public relations. There are at least two reasons that should make the Russian authorities pay careful attention to government and public relations. The first reason is the complicated relationship between India and Pakistan. In the context of this relationship any news about the development of Russian-Pakistan relations can be negatively interpreted in India. The second reason is the existence in political, business and media circles of Indian groups largely focused on countries other than Russia. For this group the above mentioned weakness in Russia-India relations is a gift which they will use to criticise Russia and promote the interests of oth

PM Narendra Modi at Fiji ( Image credits- Flickr/ Narendra Modi Official) Source- The Diplomat Author- Patrick M. Cronin & Darshana M. Baruah Only six months into his tenure, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is breathing new life into the concept of Indo-Pacific security. Indeed, it is not too early to describe the key elements of an emerging “Modi Doctrine” focused on the vigorous pursuit of political influence through greater maritime power. Acutely aware that India’s development is best advanced across the sea lanes of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the prime minister is embarking on a course of intensified engagement with other regional maritime powers. If the Modi Doctrine persists, then about a quarter century of “looking East” is truly set to be followed by a long-term period of “acting East.” Heightened security cooperation with Japan, Australia, and the United States are three prime indicators of the new doctrine. Strengthening existing security ties

Source- The Internet Source- The Business Insider Author- Jeremy Bender North Korea is attempting to develop submarines capable of launching nuclear armed ballistic missiles, Debalina Ghoshal  writes  for USNI News. North Korea is developing a new class of submarines based on the designs of the Soviet-era Golf-II class submarine. Although these vessels have been surpassed by later US and European models and are basically obsolete by modern standards, North Korea is gaining technological insight from the submarines that could lead to a functioning ballistic missile vessel. As Ghoshal writes: [T]hese submarines  would be able to fire ballistic missiles . In fact, reports confirm that Pyongyang already is developing a vertical-launch system for submarine  launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) . Raising further concerns about that is the fact that North Korean ballistic missiles could be armed with nuclear warheads. This interest in a sea-based missile capability co

JS Hakuryu ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ United States Navy) Source- The Asean Military Defense Review Author- Maki Catama Australia will not hold an open tender to replace its ageing Collins-class submarines, government officials said on Tuesday, a decision that bolsters Japan's position as the likely builder of the new multibillion-dollar fleet. Reuters reported in September that Australia was leaning towards buying as many as 12 off-the-shelf stealth submarines from Japan despite domestic pressure to build them at home. Since then, several European defence contractors have said they would be price competitive with Japan and do the work in Australia in a bid to win a piece of the overall A$40 billion ($33.96 billion) submarine programme. But the Australian government did not have time for an open bidding process, said Treasurer Joe Hockey. "We need to make decisions now and we don't have time to go through a speculation process,"

Image credits- Flickr/ Caledomac  ® Source- The National Interest Author- Rory Medcalf Media coverage will probably be quick to recognize that Xi Jinping's latest speech on Chinese foreign policy is a big deal. But the headline writers are missing the story if they focus on his pledge to uphold China's claims in maritime disputes. As someone who has done more than his share of professional worrying about the strategic implications of China's rise, I've surprised myself by reading this speech quite differently. Yes, it is challenge to the world order we know, but not a confrontational or a jarring one. It's subtle, and other countries should be relieved, as well as cautious. The good news is that Xi's speech is much more about diplomacy than raw power. It follows a season of statesmanship in hosting APEC and President Obama, advancing Chinese interests in a non-confrontational manner at the East Asia Summit and the G20, and successful visi