Tag: ukraine

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A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

ALSO, IT IS PRONE TO THOUSAND OF INTERPRETATIONS

Pic Courtesy: Indian Express

Random Thoughts

  • Well done India – INS Vikrant (Indigenous Aircraft Carrier {IAC-1}, Commissioned.
  • United States –  11,  China – 3,  India, United Kingdom & Italy – 2each,  Russia, France & Spain- 1 each.
  • Important is joining the elite group of nations –  US, Russia, France,  UK, and China – who are capable of designing and constructing aircraft carriers.
  • Are two aircraft carriers adequate?
  • Can we afford a third one?
  • Where would be it on the priority list?
  • Aircraft Carrier or Submarines?

 

Pic Courtesy: Graphic news

Random Thoughts

  • Rapid growth in China’s Shipbuilding capability.
  • Numerically PLAN has overtaken USN.
  • Soon it will be from 3 to 6, for two fleet operations.
  • It is a matter of time before the Chinese fleet ventures into IOR.
  • Convert ANC from iron curtain to steel curtain.
  • Look into the islands on the western seaboard.

 

Pic Courtesy: Visual Capitalist

Random Thoughts

  • India has overtaken the UK and is at the number 5 position now.
  • Predictions are that India would reach number 3 position in the future behind China and USA.
  • Ranking apart the disparity between the value of the economy is very large.
  • Another prediction says in future India will have 20% of the world’s working population.
  • It is predicted that it is the decade or the century of India.
  • There would be many ifs and unpredictable events to deal with.

 

Pic Courtesy: BBC

Random Thoughts

  • In the pictures three things stand out.
    • A corridor in western Ukraine under Russian control.
    • Consolidation of Crimea – land connectivity with control over water and electricity supply lines.
    • Limited access to the sea for Ukraine.
  • Russia seems to have achieved its objectives.
  • Now it is wait and watch to formally end it on its terms.
  • How long will the US-led west keep inciting Ukraine to continue the resistance?
  • Continued fighting is not good for Ukraine, Russia, and Europe in particular and the world in general.
  • Question then arises is WHY?
  • Is the threat to Petro-Dollar or is it the defence industry that is at play ?

 

Pic Courtesy: BBC

Random Thoughts

  • The disparity between the military strength of the two countries is large.
  • At the same time it is not a walkover for China.
  • What should the Taiwan strategy be?
    • Purely defensive, limited offense, or offensive defence?
  • Read an appropriate word to explain it – Porcupine Strategy.
  • In what form will the USA help Taiwan?

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

 

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References and credits

Reserve Bank of India.

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

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10 THINGS I LEARNT TODAY (01 AUG 22)

 

Pic Courtesy: Pond5

  1. The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain exports has set off from the port of Odessa for Lebanon as part of the deal negotiated between Russia and Ukraine.

 

Comments: A good beginning – The process will ease off some of the world food crisis.

 

  1. Russian missile strikes on Mykolaiv, a port city in the south, killed Oleksiy Vadatursky, one of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and biggest exporters of grain.

 

Comments: Is there a message or connection between the agreement to allow the export of grain and this act?

 

  1. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of America’s House of Representatives, landed in Singapore, the first stop of a tour through Asia. Her delegation also plans to visit Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. There was no mention of whether she would travel to Taiwan as initially suggested. Chinese officials earlier threatened “strong and resolute measures” should she stop on the island. If she does, Ms Pelosi would be the highest-ranking American official to visit Taiwan since 1997.

 

Comments:

  • China’s strongly worded threat – “those who play with fire, perish by it”.
  • Wait and watch for–
    • Who will blink?
    • Brinkmanship will go up to what extent?
    • Is it a Chinese red line?

 

  1. On Russian Navy day President Vladimir Putin marked by announcing that the navy would receive the “formidable” hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles in the coming months.

 

Comments: Hypersonic weapons have arrived, heralding a paradigm shift in warfare (Sply Air Defence and Ballistic Missile Defence).

 

  1. According to reports, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China is actively recruiting Tibetans and Nepalis from the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) who are well-versed in Hindi for both interpretation and intelligence-gathering jobs along the Line of Actual Control. Officials were also stated to have visited colleges and universities in China in a large-scale drive to search for Hindi graduates for recruitment for LAC jobs in the PLA.

 

Comments: For sure, Hindi-speaking personnel must be present in all the Sino – Indian meetings.

 

  1. It is reported that China has approx. 7,000 active Tibetan military personnel in its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Around 1,000 Tibetans, including about 100 females, are enrolled in Special Tibetan Army Units.

 

Comments: Part of the process to involve few of the Tibetans in the mainstream and to change the demography of TAR.

 

  1. Chinese manufacturing company has set up its office in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This company has been renovating and building new bunkers for the Pakistan Army. Chinese companies have done construction in PoK in the past too, but this is the first time such a project has been taken up along the LoC.

 

Comments:

  • Shameful – Pakistan is not capable of making even bunkers.
  • The presence of China in the POK is increasing.
  • The bilateral issue of POK is gradually becoming Trilateral.

 

  1. China’s People’s Liberation Army recently tested an advanced Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) at an altitude of more than 5,300 metres in the Xinjiang Region close to the Indian border that could hit critical Indian military bases. China’s state media reported that China is likely to deploy the PHL-16 MLRS on the Sino-Indian border.

 

Comments: Classic example of Strategic signalling and strategic coercion.

 

  1. China’s PLA has carried out a military exercise with Z-10 attack helicopters for the first time over Pangong Lake.

 

Comments: The air activity along the LOC is gradually changing. Aerial muscle flexing is becoming a part of the border incursions and standoffs.

 

  1. Myanmar’s military junta extended a state of emergency across the country by six months. The regime has ruled with emergency powers since overthrowing the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

 

Comments: It is a wait and watch for the return of democracy. Myanmar is important for India.

 

Bottom Line

 There is never a dull moment in the world.

 

Question

Will nations ever stop fighting with each other?

 

 

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References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

 

 

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Lessons: Air War in Ukraine

 

Being prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.

– George Washington

 

Russia – Ukraine war has entered the fourth month, with no end in sight. This war has affected every aspect of warfare and international engagement. The war has brought into focus the issues related to the new emerging world order, multilateralism, collective security, nuclear deterrence, economic sanctions, information warfare, and food & energy security.

 

Russia has not used the full potential of its military power against Ukraine. Question intriguing the military analysts is why the airpower has not been utilised fully and freely. While Russia is being criticised by the West for its lack of capabilities, another school of thought is that Russia is following a delicate approach towards the use of force and ensuing destruction. While the world is eagerly waiting for the end of this conflict, a lot of lessons are emerging from the prevailing situation.

 

General Aspects of war

 

Objectives. Officially, Russia stated her objectives of the “special military operation” as “demilitarisation, denazification and assurance about the neutral status of Ukraine (i.e. not joining NATO)”. The operations were justified by Russia, citing help call from the Donbas region for its liberation from Ukraine. In retrospect, it appears the undeclared objective was also to consolidate the Russian hold on Crimea.

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