Israel Is India S Largest Arms Supplier, Larger Than Russia, Despite Not Selling Fighters

Israel is india’s largest arms supplier, larger than Russia, despite not selling fighters, tanks etc Soviets lost from cutting ties with Israel in ’67 and ceased being a player in the ME.

The satellite launched by india for Israel will be useful as and when a strike against iran is launched.

India was willing to host arab league summit when iraq cldnt host it. And didn’t condemn iraq aggression of iran because iraq was baathist, secular, gave oil at subsidized prices and supp. India on Kashmir. Implicitly endorsed occupation of Kuwait by moving embassy in feb’90 to Baghdad.

But after Khomeini died, rushdie fatwa was lifted and iran grew closer to the arabs, that india agreed to talk to iran.

So after’ 91 all this normalization took place. And seeing Madrid accords, india and Israel came closer.

India opened up economy on force. India second most dependent on external energy after japan and wanted iran but didn’t think of US concerns.

Nuclear question – security council. IAEA vote

The IPI pipeline was not workable. But didn’t do it when rice visited delhi.

LNG – india wants – but iran doesn’t have the technology. India’s energy investment - Finances, technology, pol. compulsions Syria, Egypt, Sakhalin, sudan etc – india is engaged at all these places but only iran gets focus.

Energy from iran – problems because of

Israel – worried abt iran since 1979 since shah was help - maronite Christians, Ethiopia, turkey

But since 1982 – Iranian over-reach has extended and de-facto neighbor of Israel through Hezbollah. And iran is only one which opposed Madrid and oslo process. India pretended this iran-israel cconflict doesn’t affect it. But Israel since 90s has been pushing india to kill relations to iran. And iran opposed Indian relations normalization with Israel (but only a communiqué) even after satellite. But iran’s problem with india is abt US not abt Israel relations.

Israel makes iran central issue of dispute with india. India’s strategic dialog is ridiculous. Has with 38 countries.We just talk for 10 min. India has a unique – MoU – which is not a formal agreement. So the new form of it is Joint working group. with Israel: defence production, terrorism and foreign relations. india has now decided that unlike west, Israel will give help without talking of human rights record etc and india needs what Israel gives in mil. intel etc. but india cant abandon iran given its energy reserves.

Eventually, india-iran and india-israel relationships will be independent of each other.

India doesn’t want to be a middleman.

Shireen hunter: Iranian-pakistani relationship is a problem for india. And iran is a transit route to places it cant get to.

Cultural bonds are closer: Nehru: Persia’s soul came to india and found a dwelling place in taj. India is a potential middle power. and shah’s pretensions to become an Indian ocean power didn’t sit well with india.

And Saudi influence in Pakistan has brought india and iran closer.

Iran’s Israel obsession is psychopathic – but Israel has killed US-israeli rapprochement.

By opposing the CONOCO deal and the dual containment of martin-higgins deal. The sanctions on iran were done by senate not US govt.

Israel in 1974 – changed attitude towards iran and

PRK: but does india need central asia? If it does, India needs iran.

Morocco to Pakistan – iran has what it takes to be a great power – but it cant get it without US recognition. And US is finding ti difficult – hamas, Hezbollah, hormuz etc. Frankly iran could be the go-to guy on all these. And deliver more. And is US ready to accept Iran as a major power in this region?

Israel was the major power for US -Pre-camp david. Egypt Israel PLO – till oslo

India no longer makes Pakistan a factor in dealing with other countries. Because of wanting to be a power beyond south asia.

Mercedes benz has inaugurated a new model in india – despite recession. Security cooperation between india and iran – is exclusively energy. (R: no. kash – much collab.) although US said Iranians being trained in IMA etc.

A mil. exercise between india and iran on a day when bush was visiting iran.

And unlike israel’s case, india was unwilling to launch Iranian satellite!

Silverman: Russia role in iran and india.

Ahmedinejad – will be more moderate in second term. And with Israel, india will be friendly but will be firm abt peace agreements. And this will also be obama’s policy. On a bilateral front, he’ll be friendly but not on peace process.

India did not vote with Israel at UN ever. Bilateral is diff from peace process. With Netanyahu – titll be Shamir-bush like confrontation.