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Why is Russia selling weapons to Pakistan ?
Since it has been declared that Russia is selling mi-35 hind attack helicopters to Pakistan. The deal has created a lot of buzz among common people of India, especially on social media. All with one question, 'WHY'?
Russian economy depends mainly on two industries, petroleum and defense. As western countries have put many rounds of sanctions on Russia and they being one of the biggest customers of Russian oil has adversely affected Russian economy and with that, the steep fall in global oil prices has worsen the situation. This has left one option for the Russian economy to make up for the loss in the petroleum industry and i.e. Defense. Russia can set off the losses suffered in the petroleum industry by boosting sales of a successful defense industry. Along with this reason, the defense industry has its own reason for boosting sales of defense hardware. The Defense sector in Russia employs around 3 million people which is more than 20% of the total manufacturing jobs in Russia. To keep up with supply this industry generates, it needs a similar demand which is not possible by domestic orders as Russian orders are mostly very small for this capital intensive industry to survive and hence they need exports orders.
Earlier two countries, namely China and India used to act as life savers, accounting for more than 60% of Russian defense sales. But now with development of domestic industry of China and the diversification of defense portfolios by India allowing more western and domestic weapons, Russia is already feeling the burn of it. From years Russia is desperately trying to sell all its new weaponry to India or China (for eg- su-35 and SA300 SAM) with most attempts going in vein. So Russian policy makers have now started searching new customers for its compulsive need to sell weapon to sustain its defense industry as there are lesser chances available with India and China now.
But many would ask questions as to why only Pakistan which is not only an enemy of one of its best friend India but was also directly involved against Russia in Afghanistan?
Pakistan is a very ambitious country when it come to acquiring defense products. It has always tried to match up with its arch rival India (forgetting that India's defense preparedness is based more on the Chinese factor rather than Pakistan), so it always want to acquire latest weapons. With the relationship between Pakistan and USA on the decline after the Osama Bin Laden incident and also America's new diplomatic approach towards India, USA and other western countries are reluctant in selling latest weapons to Pakistan.
This has given a perfect opportunity for Russia to sell its weapon to an always weapon hungry Pakistan. By this Russia is actually fulfilling its two objectives.
First by giving its defense industry a possible lifeline by selling small quantities of weapons to Pakistan now, which in the long term can ensure a bigger order from Pakistan which is currently dependent on Chinese weapons.
Second being a warning to India which is tilting more towards countries like America and Israel for latest he-tech weapons acquisition. In simple words, Russia is basically telling India to either 'come back to us or we will have to find a new customer and it can be your arch rival also'. So for Russia it is more of a strategic move rather than a commercial one.
For now, till what point will this new defense business between Russia and Pakistan will go will all depend on just two points. First, till what level is Russia willing to elevate defense trade with Pakistan & ignoring the risk of parting away from and economic powerhouse like India and second, what will be the Indian strategic re-approach towards Russia.
Since it has been declared that Russia is selling mi-35 hind attack helicopters to Pakistan. The deal has created a lot of buzz among common people of India, especially on social media. All with one question, 'WHY'?
Russian economy depends mainly on two industries, petroleum and defense. As western countries have put many rounds of sanctions on Russia and they being one of the biggest customers of Russian oil has adversely affected Russian economy and with that, the steep fall in global oil prices has worsen the situation. This has left one option for the Russian economy to make up for the loss in the petroleum industry and i.e. Defense. Russia can set off the losses suffered in the petroleum industry by boosting sales of a successful defense industry. Along with this reason, the defense industry has its own reason for boosting sales of defense hardware. The Defense sector in Russia employs around 3 million people which is more than 20% of the total manufacturing jobs in Russia. To keep up with supply this industry generates, it needs a similar demand which is not possible by domestic orders as Russian orders are mostly very small for this capital intensive industry to survive and hence they need exports orders.
Earlier two countries, namely China and India used to act as life savers, accounting for more than 60% of Russian defense sales. But now with development of domestic industry of China and the diversification of defense portfolios by India allowing more western and domestic weapons, Russia is already feeling the burn of it. From years Russia is desperately trying to sell all its new weaponry to India or China (for eg- su-35 and SA300 SAM) with most attempts going in vein. So Russian policy makers have now started searching new customers for its compulsive need to sell weapon to sustain its defense industry as there are lesser chances available with India and China now.
But many would ask questions as to why only Pakistan which is not only an enemy of one of its best friend India but was also directly involved against Russia in Afghanistan?
Pakistan is a very ambitious country when it come to acquiring defense products. It has always tried to match up with its arch rival India (forgetting that India's defense preparedness is based more on the Chinese factor rather than Pakistan), so it always want to acquire latest weapons. With the relationship between Pakistan and USA on the decline after the Osama Bin Laden incident and also America's new diplomatic approach towards India, USA and other western countries are reluctant in selling latest weapons to Pakistan.
This has given a perfect opportunity for Russia to sell its weapon to an always weapon hungry Pakistan. By this Russia is actually fulfilling its two objectives.
First by giving its defense industry a possible lifeline by selling small quantities of weapons to Pakistan now, which in the long term can ensure a bigger order from Pakistan which is currently dependent on Chinese weapons.
Second being a warning to India which is tilting more towards countries like America and Israel for latest he-tech weapons acquisition. In simple words, Russia is basically telling India to either 'come back to us or we will have to find a new customer and it can be your arch rival also'. So for Russia it is more of a strategic move rather than a commercial one.
For now, till what point will this new defense business between Russia and Pakistan will go will all depend on just two points. First, till what level is Russia willing to elevate defense trade with Pakistan & ignoring the risk of parting away from and economic powerhouse like India and second, what will be the Indian strategic re-approach towards Russia.
