Russian President Vladimir Putin has backstabbed India, one of its closest allies to whom it supplies military parts, according to a report by defense and national security website 19FortyFive. In the past, India contracted Russia to deliver the S-400 Triumf air defense system for $5.4 billion. Russia reportedly vowed to complete the contract in five deliveries.
In addition, India also contracted Russia to provide parts for its Sukhoi Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighter jets. But Russia has recently informed India that it cannot follow through on its promises because of its war with Ukraine. According to one analyst, Michael Rubin, a senior analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, the United States must respond to this deeply fractured relationship and take advantage of it.
The United States should be ready to pounce as its ties to India remain uncertain and strained amid concerns that there may be technology leakage. Despite such concerns, however, India reportedly maintains strict organization and compartmentalizes information.
If Russia cannot provide the parts needed to India to maintain its air force, including gas turbines and jet engines, then the U.S. stepping in and filling in that gap may give it a generational partner that borders China and hence foster a new ally as hostilities with the communist country continue to grow.
This same strategy could be applied to Armenia, according to Rubin. Armenia is reportedly welcoming help from Russia as it faces aggression from Turkey and Azerbaijan. Russia is providing means of deterrence to Armenia similar to the U.S. with Poland and Romania.
It is reportedly speculative whether anyone knew of the Nagorno-Karabakh attack by Azerbaijan prior to it occurring, but Russia intervened and imposed a ceasefire that gave the country an image of being a peacekeeper. But Russia is allegedly losing diplomatic focus as the war with Ukraine enters beyond one year.
