The Hindu : Strategic triangle

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Strategic triangle

Sir, — This is with reference to the news analysis by C. Raja Mohan "Strategic triangle in focus during Putin's visit" (Dec. 3).

Altruistic behaviour has always marred the Indian foreign policy. It is only in recent times that it started attaining pragmatism. International affairs are conducted on the basis of profitable alignments; we must create assets and prove that we are worthy enough in financial terms.

Even in the eventuality of the proposed strategic triangle comprising India, Russia and China becoming a reality, we must insist that such a forum shall have economic and strategic content with emphasis on regional security, instead of encouraging the fashionable idea of developing "another pole".

At least, Russia and China are alive to this reality. Barring their ritualistic murmurs, both the countries never gave an impression that they are at loggerheads with the U.S. They realise that their bilateral relations with the U.S. involve a lot of financial stakes. China reacts strongly to only such U.S. moves that threaten its territorial interest and undermines its "status" as a "regional power" in Asia. So does Russia.

We should not allow the move to hamper the momentum that the Indo-U.S. relations have acquired in recent times.

C. Pavankumar Prasad,

Tirupati

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

Stories in this Section

Tragedy and resolve

Politics of Terror

Fashioning a federal Sri Lanka

Sovereignty of federations - II

Getting rid of the 'black sheep' and maintaining judicial independence

Hunger in Palestine

Loose links in prosecution's chain

A folk play with a disturbing message