What the US will get incorrect about India’s Brics membership and Russian arms buys

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick lately remarked that India’s historic choice for Russian navy tools and its participation in Brics have been factors of rivalry in US-India relations.

Talking on the eighth US-India Strategic Partnership Discussion board in Washington, DC, he stated, “There have been sure issues that the Indian authorities did that typically rubbed the USA the incorrect means[…]As an example, you typically purchase your navy gear from Russia. That’s a method to sort of get underneath the pores and skin of America when you’re going to purchase your armaments from Russia.”

Lutnick additional stated that India being part of Brics, which he characterised as a grouping that’s bent on not supporting the greenback and greenback hegemony, is “not likely the way in which to make associates and affect individuals in America.”

Nonetheless, his perspective overlooks the nuanced historic and strategic components which have formed India’s defence procurement and multilateral engagements.

Historic context of India’s defence procurement

India’s reliance on Russian arms is rooted in historic circumstances, not its membership of Brics. In reality, additionally it is very intently linked to the US international coverage in the course of the Sixties-70s.

In the course of the Chilly Battle, the USA aligned with Pakistan, offering it with navy help to counter Soviet affect within the area. Consequently, India turned to the Soviet Union for defence tools, resulting in a longstanding partnership that included the availability of MiG-21 jets, T-55 tanks, and different navy {hardware}.

This relationship was additional solidified in the course of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani Battle, when the Soviet Union supported India diplomatically and militarily, whereas the US sided with Pakistan. The Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1971 exemplified this strategic partnership.

Even within the post-Chilly Battle period, the US weapons exports continued to come back with many strings hooked up. In a number of of its arms offers, Washington has gone as far as to impose situations about how the customer nation could use these techniques.

A major instance is the restriction on Pakistan for the way it could use the US-made F-16s. It isn’t stunning that this hegemonic perspective from Washington has saved patrons at bay.

Evolving defence partnerships

In recent times, India has diversified its defence procurement, lowering its reliance on Russian tools. The share of Russian arms in India’s imports decreased from 76 per cent in 2009 to 36 per cent in 2023.

India has more and more engaged with Western suppliers, notably the US and France, buying superior techniques such because the Rafale fighter jets and P-8I maritime patrol plane.

Collaborative initiatives just like the Defence Expertise and Commerce Initiative (DTTI) and INDUS-X have additional strengthened US-India defence ties, specializing in the co-development and co-production of navy applied sciences.

India’s position in Brics

India’s participation in Brics is usually considered by means of the lens of its relations with Russia and China. Nonetheless, India has used its place inside the grouping to advocate for reforms in international governance and to advertise the pursuits of the International South. India has additionally resisted efforts by China to dominate the Brics agenda, notably relating to initiatives just like the Belt and Street Initiative.

By remaining in Brics, India serves as a counterbalance to China’s affect, making certain that the bloc doesn’t grow to be a platform for Chinese language geopolitical ambitions— one thing the US would additionally need. This strategic engagement permits India to take care of its autonomy whereas contributing to a multipolar world order.

Moderately than viewing India’s actions as opposite to US pursuits, recognising the complexities of its international coverage can pave the way in which for deeper and extra significant cooperation between the 2 democracies.

Alas, Lutnick has not gotten that fairly proper.

With inputs from companies