Opinion Why India Should Consider Arms Sales to Russia in Retaliation for US and Canada's "Hypocrisy" on Khalistani Extremism

India's traditionally balanced foreign policy is facing a critical test as diplomatic tensions with the West escalate, particularly with the United States and Canada. Accusations that both nations are harboring Khalistani extremists, despite repeated concerns raised by New Delhi, have fueled discussions on whether India should leverage its defence industry to supply arms to Russia, a long-standing strategic partner.

For decades, India has been the largest producer of Russian weaponry outside of Russia itself. Indian defence facilities manufacture major Russian-designed systems like T-90 tanks and Su-30MKI fighter jets under license. However, direct arms sales to Russia have been avoided to maintain strategic autonomy. This stance is now being challenged by the current geopolitical climate.

The heart of the issue lies in India's perception that both the US and Canada have failed to address concerns about Khalistani separatist groups advocating for an independent Sikh state. Despite repeated attempts by the Indian government to raise the issue in bilateral talks, perceived inaction by both countries has led to growing frustration in New Delhi.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been particularly criticized for his perceived "anti-India rhetoric" and what India sees as a failure to curb the activities of Khalistani extremists within Canada. This perceived disregard for Indian national security has significantly strained relations between the two countries.

Adding fuel to the fire, Russian media outlet Sputnik recently highlighted the contrast between Russia's unwavering support for India and the West's alleged tolerance of secessionist movements. This has further solidified the perception of Western "hypocrisy" in the eyes of some Indian officials.

With Russia being a crucial defence partner since the Cold War, supplying India with everything from fighter jets to submarines, the question now arises: should India leverage its domestic arms production capabilities to reciprocate this support?

Interestingly, while India has not directly sold arms to Russia, Ukrainian forces have reportedly acquired Indian-made equipment through European intermediaries during the ongoing conflict. This has led some Indian defence experts to argue that selling arms to Russia could be a way for India to assert its independence on the global stage and send a clear message to the US and Canada about the consequences of their perceived support for Khalistani extremism.

However, such a move is not without risks. Approving arms sales to Russia could further strain relations with the West and complicate India's efforts to maintain its strategic autonomy. As India navigates this complex diplomatic landscape, the decision on arms sales to Russia represents a significant foreign policy challenge with potentially far-reaching consequences.

 

[sanket]

yes, and stop that stryker deal Fist that should b banned & go for Indigenous WhAP & also supply to Russia second US & NATO countries openly washing their own hands by supplying weapons to Ukraine why not then Bharat , we earn Foreign Exchange too

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Plan alternate engines for Tejas jets.

 

[PKPRS]

Like India is not doing it already.

 

[amerjit johal]

What's more valuable to India -
a] Supplying Russians with arms for short term gains
OR
b] Not pizzzing the Americans off -
With whom we have a huge balance of payment surplus
Ready supply of Study and work Visa's
The $billions sent back to India.

I feel that our future is with the West so would say b

 

[Instant Karma]

Not only arms sales but we should send one million soldiers to fight for Russian on one condition that the liberated Ukrainian land will belong to India and Indian will permanently live on Ukrainian land. Indian will be the Ruler of Ukraine. This step is urgently needed as our country is getting overpopulated.

 

[Anubhav Sharma]

We probably are and we should but in secrecy no need to hype this ,easy and steady coz we have an economy to maintain and we need access to west markets and some here and there tech

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Russia is a sinking ship. Our aim should be not let Rus fall in chinese hands and maintain normal if not very cordial relations with west. West is vast, Canada is small player, no need to make storm in a tea pot.

 

[Sangram]

What's more valuable to India -
a] Supplying Russians with arms for short term gains
OR
b] Not pizzzing the Americans off -
With whom we have a huge balance of payment surplus
Ready supply of Study and work Visa's
The $billions sent back to India.

I feel that our future is with the West so would say b

Our future is bright when we trust ourselves not foreign partner US is not trustworthy country they always have deep state to pressure us.

 

[Sudha]

Irrespective of hostility of western nations or not, Bharat should export armaments to Russia for the sanctions enforced by US is not UN approved so are illegal. But Bharat needs to think about the moral aspect of supplying armaments to warring nations.

 

[Sudha]

Russia is a sinking ship. Our aim should be not let Rus fall in chinese hands and maintain normal if not very cordial relations with west. West is vast, Canada is small player, no need to make storm in a tea pot.

Wrong EU, UK & US (US huge debts also) are sinking ships. Dedollarisation & is.c radicals will ensure it. Next decade the US will gradually slip into a third world nation. Worry is its impact on Bharat. Not to say Russia isn't a sinking ship. Human resources for china & Russia will be a big headache. Russia has already lost a lot of soldiers & will not have enough people to exploit its huge natural resources.

 

[Sudha]

Not only arms sales but we should send one million soldiers to fight for Russian on one condition that the liberated Ukrainian land will belong to India and Indian will permanently live on Ukrainian land. Indian will be the Ruler of Ukraine. This step is urgently needed as our country is getting overpopulated.

That is not a worry at all. Already there are millions of Sanathanis in western nations. What do you think will happen if they are atleast 15-20% of the population?

 

[SK]

India can't afford to take such steps but taking any preemptive measures to pacify the Western World.

Canada is only able to create such a mess because of being backed & guided by US.

Once Chinese threat over US supremacy ends, the next target is obviously India.

 

[Bhishma]

They are pursuing a humiliation tactic. Its meant to arm twist the leaders. Selling arms to Russia might backfire - it will push us into Russian camp & move us away from our neutral stance. Whatever benefits we derive from being neutral will be gone. We are not prepared to sign up with Chinese. In that axis, China has the upper hand. So we will antagonise the Western camp and not fully enter the Russian camp. We will be left alone to fend for ourselves. There will be huge western media backlash on us. It will result in sanctions & delays in military procurement, FDIs. Are we prepared to handle all of that ?

Instead what we can do is, humiliate them back. Dig dirt on crimes being perpetrated by Americans on the locals in military bases. Meet with native American reservation leaders and express support for their independence.

 

[Sudha]

We probably are and we should but in secrecy no need to hype this ,easy and steady coz we have an economy to maintain and we need access to west markets and some here and there tech

It is not probably. It is a fact. How do you think Russia is flying so many missiles, drones, tanks.... now, when they could not do it before 2024? Definitely dimensionally small items are being supplied. China also is supplying Russia. US is worried sick about Bharat also supplying Russia, so the sanctions. But then US made a huge strategical error of intervening in 2024 elections of Bharat & now meeting opposition leaders of corrupt indi alliance for a regime change like they did in Bangladesh.

 

[Bhishma]

What's more valuable to India -
a] Supplying Russians with arms for short term gains
OR
b] Not pizzzing the Americans off -
With whom we have a huge balance of payment surplus
Ready supply of Study and work Visa's
The $billions sent back to India.

I feel that our future is with the West so would say b

As for b) US is a consumption economy. If they choke us, they will end up choking themselves. For eg, say they want to ban Indian jewellery. They will have to find an alternative quickly. Its not that easy. So the associated businesses will take a hit. Which will manifest as job loss.

For H1Bs - 72% of H1Bs are awarded to Indians. If they choke it, they will choke their IT industry. Which means jobs getting shipped to India. It will work in our favour if they blocked the H1Bs/F1s. Pretty much all the companies have India operations. They can just scale it up if they dont find enough workforce there.

For both scenarios, short term India will have to suffer but long term India will gain. So its tricky. What it means is, US doesnt have an upper hand over us.

 

[Kira]

What's more valuable to India -
a] Supplying Russians with arms for short term gains
OR
b] Not pizzzing the Americans off -
With whom we have a huge balance of payment surplus
Ready supply of Study and work Visa's
The $billions sent back to India.

I feel that our future is with the West so would say b

Yup, I agree with that assesment. There are very real concerns with the US and Canada,but has vastly more to gain with increased ties with the West especially in strategic and military sectors especially like newer technologies such as AI, semiconductors etc.

 

[Ravindra Singh]

india is purchasing oil from russia so india can sale weapon to russia and balance trade in a better way.

 

[Taus Melek]

In the case of Canada utilise the Hindu population of Canada - there almost 800,000, to vote against dustbin throughdoor. And at every opportunity call out the Canadians for the genocide against the indigenous population which is still on-going

 

[RG]

India may be forced to do that, based on the hostility, sanctions and backstabbing by the west.

 

[Raghu]

Like India is not doing it already.

I was thinking same, india secretly providing ammunition to russia

 

[Amit Ray]

Wrong EU, UK & US (US huge debts also) are sinking ships. Dedollarisation & is.c radicals will ensure it. Next decade the US will gradually slip into a third world nation. Worry is its impact on Bharat. Not to say Russia isn't a sinking ship. Human resources for china & Russia will be a big headache. Russia has already lost a lot of soldiers & will not have enough people to exploit its huge natural resources.

Don't be so naive to underestimate US and wishing it to become a third world nation. US will remain the most powerful nation until God decides otherwise.

 

[Sandeep]

India can sign a secret agreement with Russia and export arms to them quietly. Another option is to sell it to them indirectly via Belarus or Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan. There are ways to get rich quietly and we don’t get sanctioned.

 

[Sridhar]

Plan alternate engines for Tejas jets.

And delay the project by another decade or so. Airframe need to be re designed, supply chain management will be impacted.
This is what will happen if we don't become self reliant for our defence needs.

 

[beencensured]

What's more valuable to India -
a] Supplying Russians with arms for short term gains
OR
b] Not pizzzing the Americans off -
With whom we have a huge balance of payment surplus
Ready supply of Study and work Visa's
The $billions sent back to India.

I feel that our future is with the West so would say b

Right, now we should play our cards well. We lose more money from brain drain then money sent back, American would be so buutt hurt as it is fa990t land if Indians did not come over as it will signal America's irreparable fall. Besides Middle East is where most beneficial repatriation occur.

So, Indians not going to America is 200%American loss, 1000 times India's gain. There is no benefit for brain drain. I wish mental coolies could get the loss.

The place we cannot offend anyone is trade. We need trade from USa, Middle East, Russia. China is only we need to find to kick as it has ruined too many our industries like pharma, small scale, etc. We need not trade deficits with China an enemy state who supports Pakistan.

Further remind them of David Headley, 26/11 cia conspirator, few attack involved Americans in Gujarat, and so Americans are known to harbor terrorist conspire with terrorist and should be called out for it.