By Joseph FarahA strategic triumvirate of Russia, India and Iran appears to be emerging from the turmoil of world tensions and uncertainty, and analysts say it is impacting the layout of the global security map, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
Anxiety levels are on the rise because of a more assertive Russia challenging a multitude of neighbors and a nuclear-prone Iran in conflict with the United States and India, which is experiencing a higher level of conflict with neighboring China.
The scenario raises the unwelcome prospect of a strategic grouping of Russia, India and Iran balanced against the U.S., China and Pakistan.
"The Russia-India-Iran strategic triangle in terms of comparative strategic analysis would far outweigh any triangular strategic configurations linking the United States and China with any third nation combination," said Dr. Subhash Kapila, a strategic analyst with the South Asia Analysis Group.
"This formidable strategic potential arises from the sum total of the respective strategic strengths and geo-strategic significance of Russia, India and Iran," Kapila said.
With a resurgence and a rush to modernize its armed forces, Russia has re-emerged as an independent global power. It is the only power other than the U.S. with global power projection. This also is the case compared to China, which remains largely a regional Asian power with the eventual goal of achieving worldwide military prowess.While there is a temporary thaw in relations between Russia and China, they are not close. And there are issues between the two countries that could cause a further split, especially over immigration issues and the design that China has on the eastern portion of Russia where China's burgeoning population is seeping into remote regions of Russia.
Like Russia, India is a nuclear weapons country and has a vast military. Historically, the two countries have a close strategic alliance. During the Cold War, the then-Soviet Union and India had a strong strategic, military, diplomatic and economic relationship. Even after the Cold War ended, those relations continued even though India has improved its standing with the West.
Energy development between the two countries figures largely in their relationship. In addition to deals between the Russian Gasprom and India's Gas Authority of India Ltd. to develop natural gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal, the two countries last year signed an agreement for Russia to build nuclear reactors in India.
They also have agreements to work together on terrorism and space development and have a number of other agreements in science and technology. The two countries also are signatories to the North-South Transport Corridor Agreement which allows for the movement of goods between Russia and India. Another signatory to this agreement is Iran.
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