Geopolitically Important Pakistan Brings China, Russia, US Together For 45-Nation Exercises Hosted by Pak Navy

[RiazHaq]

Geopolitically Important Pakistan Brings China, Russia, US Together For 45-Nation Exercises Hosted by Pak Navy

News, analysis and opinions about India, Pakistan, US, Canada, Europe, Mid East, South Asia, Silicon Valley, High Technology, Economy, Politics, World

www.riazhaq.com

Pakistan is hosting navies from 45 nations, including the United States, China and Russia, for a joint military exercise named "AMAN 2021" in the North Arabian Sea later this month. This is the first time in a decade that Russian naval ships will attend drills with multiple NATO members.

The news prompted Indian defense analyst Pravin Sawhney to tweet: "Pakistan Navy Aman 21 exercise brings US, China & Russian navies together - what more needs to be said of Pak’s geopolitical importance in times of change!"

Tweet by Indian Defense Analyst Pravin Sawhney

United Kingdom, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and several countries from the African Union are also among participants of "AMAN 2021" The last time the Russian navy conducted joint military drills with NATO members was in the "Bold Monarch" exercise in 2011, which took place off the coast of Spain, according to Voice of America.

US-China Compete For Influence in Pakistan

There was a lot of speculation in the western media about the objectives of Pakistan policies being pursued by China and the United States, the two great powers in Asia region, and their impact on the US-China competition for world dominance. Such speculations was centered on the debt related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the US leverage in IMF bailout of Pakistan that was approved in 2019.

American business publication Wall Street Journal has produced a short video explaining how its staff sees what it describes as "US-China conflict brewing in Pakistan". What is at stake in the battle between China and the United States in Pakistan is the prize of global superpower status. Here are the key points it made back in 2019:

1. The US-China conflict brewing in Pakistan is about global dominance sought by the two great powers.

2. If China succeeds, it could become the new center of global trade. If the US wins, it could frustrate China's push to become a global power. The impact of it will be felt around the world for decades.

3. China has already surpassed the United States as the world's biggest exporter of goods and services.

4. The biggest project in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in which China is investing heavily and providing massive loans.

5. China could use the infrastructure built in Pakistan under CPEC to gain access to the Indian Ocean and supplant the United States in Pakistan.

6. CPEC-related spending is sinking Pakistan deeper in debt to China. It could force Pakistan to seek $8 billion to $12 billion bailout by IMF where US is the biggest shareholder with veto power.

7. US does not want the IMF bailout money to be used to repay Chinese debt. Not bailing out Pakistan is not an option because it could cost US an important ally in the region.

8. US could, however, use IMF bailout to limit what Pakistan can borrow from China. Such a condition will achieve the US objective of significantly slowing down CPEC and BRI.

9. Pakistan's dilemma is that it needs both the infrastructure improvements financed by China and the IMF bailout to ease pressure on its dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

10. Whoever wins in Pakistan will become the number one global superpower.

Can US "Spend Them (Chinese) Into Oblivion"?

Here's the Wall Street Journal video:

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Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel

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Geopolitically Important Pakistan Brings China, Russia, US Together For 45-Nation Exercises Hosted by Pak Navy

News, analysis and opinions about India, Pakistan, US, Canada, Europe, Mid East, South Asia, Silicon Valley, High Technology, Economy, Politics, World

www.riazhaq.com

 

[Xone]

CPEC is already slow down considerably under the present government. The development work which was in full swing in the previous government has virtually stopped, and there are only few projects are underway right now, remaining roads which would have completed years ago are still incomplete. And all the focus is on maligning the previous govt. instead of completion of the projects. USA is winning to stop CPEC related projects, and people of the country are facing worst kind of price hike in the county's history..

 

[khanasifm]

CPEC is already slow down considerably under the present government. The development work which was in full swing in the previous government has virtually stopped, and there are only few projects are underway right now, remaining roads which would have completed years ago are still incomplete. And all the focus is on maligning the previous govt. instead of completion of the projects. USA is winning to stop CPEC related projects, and people of the country are facing worst kind of price hike in the county's history..

Patwari statement

 

[Xone]

Patwari statement

if the state of affairs are not what others see, please tell us why is the CPEC has come under question?

 

[Sharpshooter12]

CPEC is already slow down considerably under the present government. The development work which was in full swing in the previous government has virtually stopped, and there are only few projects are underway right now, remaining roads which would have completed years ago are still incomplete. And all the focus is on maligning the previous govt. instead of completion of the projects. USA is winning to stop CPEC related projects, and people of the country are facing worst kind of price hike in the county's history..

So should we go bankrupt trying to keep up the pace?

 

[PakistaniAtBahrain]

if the state of affairs are not what others see, please tell us why is the CPEC has come under question?

literally every analyst says CPEC is moving fastest under Imran Khan. which is even more impressive considered he inherited an economy circling the drain and the impact of coronavirus.

 

[cloud4000]

The author thinks that Pakistan is still up for grabs between China and the US. It's absolutely clear what side Pakistan falls on -- it's clearly China. With CPEC, China has made massive investments. Plus, Pakistan is geopolitically more critical to China than the US. Why do you think the US is supporting India?

 

[KurtisBrian]

Pakistan Gov't focusing on the wrong prize. Can look up to the mountains OR can look up to the north and the "stan" lands. Control the center, control trade, be the port for all the little "stans"....

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Pakistan Gov't focusing on the wrong prize. Can look up to the mountains OR can look up to the north and the "stan" lands. Control the center, control trade, be the port for all the little "stans"....

True. That is the real prize. Before the British came the reegion that is Pakistan was linked with other Stans through trading, cultural and religious connections. After British arrived on the Khyber and Russians arrived in Bukhara literally a curtain rose between these regions. It continued after 1947 with the Cold War USSR and West rivalry when Pakistan was allied with West.

However now that the war is winding down in Afghanistan this opportunity is again opening up. But the problem is who will finance the huge infra investment needed to connect up with the Stans? Roads and rails etc?

Enter the Chinese ....

 

[RiazHaq]

Pakistan hosted Naval Exercise is called "AMAN” (#Peace) for a good reason: it amplifies Pakistan's peacemaker role among great powers China, Russia, US. History shows that Pakistan brought China-US together back in 1970s. https://www.southasiainvestor.com/2021/02/geopolitically-important-pakistan.html

 

[Path-Finder]

The author thinks that Pakistan is still up for grabs between China and the US. It's absolutely clear what side Pakistan falls on -- it's clearly China. With CPEC, China has made massive investments. Plus, Pakistan is geopolitically more critical to China than the US. Why do you think the US is supporting India?

india should as always outdo Pakistan and do a 100 nation naval exercise!

 

[KurtisBrian]

ahhh it is an anti-piracy exercise. Guess, everyone wants to ensure they can stop those Somali pirates from taking container and tanker ships.

Russia says it will join drills with NATO member ships off Pakistan | SaltWire

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Thursday it would take part in drills involving more than 30 countries off the coast of Pakistan, in rare joint exercises ...

www.theguardian.pe.ca

 

[waz]

Of course the US ain’t leaving Pakistan alone, why would it when the relationship is crucial for their Central Asian presence.
Biden himself famously shouted at Karzai that Pakistan is 100 times more important.
The Indian dimension doesn’t come into this, they are chummy in order to counter China.

 

[waz]

Geopolitically Important Pakistan Brings China, Russia, US Together For 45-Nation Exercises Hosted by Pak Navy

News, analysis and opinions about India, Pakistan, US, Canada, Europe, Mid East, South Asia, Silicon Valley, High Technology, Economy, Politics, World

www.riazhaq.com

Pakistan is hosting navies from 45 nations, including the United States, China and Russia, for a joint military exercise named "AMAN 2021" in the North Arabian Sea later this month. This is the first time in a decade that Russian naval ships will attend drills with multiple NATO members.

The news prompted Indian defense analyst Pravin Sawhney to tweet: "Pakistan Navy Aman 21 exercise brings US, China & Russian navies together - what more needs to be said of Pak’s geopolitical importance in times of change!"

​

Tweet by Indian Defense Analyst Pravin Sawhney

United Kingdom, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and several countries from the African Union are also among participants of "AMAN 2021" The last time the Russian navy conducted joint military drills with NATO members was in the "Bold Monarch" exercise in 2011, which took place off the coast of Spain, according to Voice of America.

​

US-China Compete For Influence in Pakistan

There was a lot of speculation in the western media about the objectives of Pakistan policies being pursued by China and the United States, the two great powers in Asia region, and their impact on the US-China competition for world dominance. Such speculations was centered on the debt related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the US leverage in IMF bailout of Pakistan that was approved in 2019.

American business publication Wall Street Journal has produced a short video explaining how its staff sees what it describes as "US-China conflict brewing in Pakistan". What is at stake in the battle between China and the United States in Pakistan is the prize of global superpower status. Here are the key points it made back in 2019:

1. The US-China conflict brewing in Pakistan is about global dominance sought by the two great powers.

2. If China succeeds, it could become the new center of global trade. If the US wins, it could frustrate China's push to become a global power. The impact of it will be felt around the world for decades.

3. China has already surpassed the United States as the world's biggest exporter of goods and services.

4. The biggest project in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in which China is investing heavily and providing massive loans.

5. China could use the infrastructure built in Pakistan under CPEC to gain access to the Indian Ocean and supplant the United States in Pakistan.

6. CPEC-related spending is sinking Pakistan deeper in debt to China. It could force Pakistan to seek $8 billion to $12 billion bailout by IMF where US is the biggest shareholder with veto power.

7. US does not want the IMF bailout money to be used to repay Chinese debt. Not bailing out Pakistan is not an option because it could cost US an important ally in the region.

8. US could, however, use IMF bailout to limit what Pakistan can borrow from China. Such a condition will achieve the US objective of significantly slowing down CPEC and BRI.

9. Pakistan's dilemma is that it needs both the infrastructure improvements financed by China and the IMF bailout to ease pressure on its dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

10. Whoever wins in Pakistan will become the number one global superpower.

​

Can US "Spend Them (Chinese) Into Oblivion"?

Here's the Wall Street Journal video:

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

South Asia Investor Review

Can Pakistan Avoid Recurring Balance of Payment Crisis?

Pakistan Economy Hobbled By Underinvestment

Pakistan's IT Exports Surging

Can Indian Economy Survive Without Western Capital Inflows?

Pakistan-China-Russia Vs India-Japan-US

Chinese Yuan to Replace US $ as Reserve Currency?

Remittances From Overseas Pakistanis

Can Imran Khan Lead Pakistan to the Next Level?

China to Expand Manufacturing in Special Economic Zones

Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel

PakAlumni Social Network

Geopolitically Important Pakistan Brings China, Russia, US Together For 45-Nation Exercises Hosted by Pak Navy

News, analysis and opinions about India, Pakistan, US, Canada, Europe, Mid East, South Asia, Silicon Valley, High Technology, Economy, Politics, World

www.riazhaq.com

It would have been even better if the navy had the TYP54AP's and Milgem Pak ships.

 

[RiazHaq]

Pakistan’s trade deal with #China makes it an ideal re-exporting hub. #US companies can build #manufacturing facilities in #Pakistan and add value to #American goods there, enabling those goods to access the Chinese market as Pakistani #exports. #economy https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blo...stan-policy-this-is-what-it-should-look-like/

The United States cannot match China’s economic investment in Pakistan or in the region for that matter, but it can influence the direction Pakistan takes. That possibility is greater now than at any time in recent memory as there are significant changes to fundamentals that have long defined Pakistan’s strategic calculus.

First, the United States is no longer fixated on terrorism, which means it is no longer paying attention to Pakistan in the ways it did after the 9/11 attacks. Pakistan is keen to find new ways to engage the United States. These sentiments, exhibited at the highest levels of military and civilian leadership in Pakistan, are motivated by the pragmatic realization that the country can no longer take US interest for granted as the United States shrinks its presence in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has offered a new approach based on economic security that seeks collaboration with the United States on climate change, technology, and a host of other non-security issues. Translating this new approach into a reality is going to take a lot of work, as Pakistan falls short in keeping its own economic house in order.

This is related to the second fundamental change: the economy. Dwindling foreign aid, dips in labor remittances owing to the collapse of Gulf Cooperation Council economies, and decreases in Pakistan’s textile and manufacturing exports have put the country in dire straits. Pakistan has long borrowed to finance existing debt. That is no longer possible, and payments on its short- to medium-term debts are converging. Pakistan needs international assistance, preferably via loans and economic aid, and it must grow its exports to boost its economy. The United States should take note that under these circumstances Pakistan will be more open to policy compromises that could provide relief on these fronts.

Third, Saudi Arabia no longer serves as Pakistan’s strategic depth. After nearly five decades of close ties, Saudi Arabia is decisively distancing itself from Pakistan. Last year it canceled a three-billion-dollar loan after Islamabad complained about lack of Saudi support for Pakistan over Indian suppression in Kashmir.

---
Fifth, the paradigm for India-Pakistan relations is changing. With Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States de-linking conflict between India and Pakistan from their respective relationships with those countries, Pakistan is being forced to reevaluate how it engages its traditional partners on the defining feature of its foreign relations with many countries: competition with India.

The cumulative effect of these five developments has been to unmoor Pakistan’s strategic calculus, leaving the country somewhat adrift and unsure of its standing and future direction. The changes introduce serious questions for policymakers. For example, what will the end of an Islamic foreign-policy paradigm mean for Pakistan-based militancy, which has long enjoyed the patronage of financiers based in Persian Gulf states? What will the distancing of China and Saudi Arabia from India-Pakistan tensions mean when the two neighbors come to the brink of nuclear war?