Russia's Secret Trade Channel with India Exposed

curious to know. I remember fiscal strategy was quite different from other countries during covid. the government focused on infrastructure related expenses rather than direct benefit transfer.

- India became the largest importer of Russian oil in July, surpassing China due to lower profit margins in Chinese fuel production. - Indian shipments of Russian crude increased by 12% year-on-year, reaching a record high of 2.07 million barrels per day (bpd). - India's July oil imports from Russia exceeded China's 1.76 million bpd, including both pipeline and shipment deliveries. - Indian refiners are capitalizing on discounted Russian oil following Western sanctions against Moscow. - Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE followed as India's top oil suppliers, with Middle Eastern imports rising by 4% in July. Source: [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-beats-china-to-become-russias-top-oil-buyer-in-july/articleshow/112706542.cms)

What's the reason? Modi loving Meloni is bs, there is more to this PR stunt

- Putin praises Modi for his unwavering defense of India's national interests. - Claims Modi is the 'main guarantor' of strong Russia-India ties. - Asserts Modi cannot be intimidated or forced into decisions against India's interests. - Comments made at the 'Russia Calling!' Investment Forum in Moscow. - Highlights Modi's tough policies as key to bilateral relationship.

..unless either of the two mess up insanely bad We'll probably get to the #3 spot if things go well. But it seems impossible that we'll ever go beyond that. Internal reasons that are very hard to fix:- (1) Our population TFR fell below standard replacement rate in 2023. This means we will not be able to follow the same economic growth trajectory required to reach developed status before population stagnation or declination. This is not a death knell but definitely very VERY bad news. (2) Our blue-collar workforce skill levels are not only subpar but are slowly falling behind the world standards every year. Much of our youth aim to join government orgs like the Army or the Railways which train for the job later, not before. Despite a national shortage of skilled plumbers, electricians etc, our vocational training orgs have been unsuccessful in attracting people towards these careers as well as churning out skilled workers. (3) Our bureaucratic environment is extremely slow with pathetic turnaround times on initiatives. This is not government specific and has always been the case so it seems like this will always be. This is not even a problem unique to India as many other countries have been facing this too but it is still a factor that negatively impacts our growth massively. I wish it was just internal reasons but a large part of it also comes down to both China and US being aggressively great at ensuring their successes:- (1) Chinese manufacturing seems nearly impossible to overcome - not just for India but also for the US. Yes, we might win over some industries and companies like the US, Vietnam, Thailand etc. have been doing but the amount of autocratic control in China allows them to crush competition easily. Case in point - the recent tussle between India and China on solar manufacturing which China won by autocratically lowering their prices. (2) If de-dollarisation succeeds, it will benefit China the most because (contd. in comments)

- India's imports from China increased by 13.05% to $10.28 billion in July, while exports to China fell by 9.44% to $1.05 billion, according to commerce ministry data. - During April-July 2024-25, India's exports to China dipped by 4.54% to $4.8 billion, and imports grew by 9.66% to $35.85 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $31.31 billion. - Exports to countries like the UK, Germany, and South Africa contracted in July, but saw growth in the US, UAE, and the Netherlands. - India's exports to the US rose by 3.15% to $6.55 billion in July, while imports increased by 1.43% to $3.71 billion, leading to a trade surplus of $12.2 billion during April-July 2024-25. - Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal stated that the increase in imports from China is not a concern as it aligns with India's growing consumption and economic growth. Source: [Economic Times](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/indias-imports-from-china-up-13-exports-dip-9-44-in-july/articleshow/112528612.cms)

Russian President Vladimir Putin's rare trip to North Korea underscores the growing desperation of Moscow and the newfound leverage of Pyongyang on the global stage. tl;dr: - Russia and North Korea, both pariah states, are cementing a partnership driven by mutual needs - Putin seeks a steady supply of North Korean munitions to sustain his faltering war in Ukraine - Kim Jong Un aims to bolster his international standing and secure economic and technological support - The visit goes beyond optics, with Putin attempting to counter his isolation following the Ukraine invasion - The deepening alliance raises concerns about the potential transfer of sensitive technologies, posing a significant challenge to global security The strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea have far-reaching implications for the global geopolitical landscape. As Moscow and Pyongyang align their interests in opposition to the US-led international order, the world watches with growing unease. The prospect of increased military cooperation and technology sharing between these nuclear-armed states could destabilize regional security dynamics and complicate efforts to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Moreover, the alliance could provide a lifeline to both regimes, helping them weather economic sanctions and international pressure. This, in turn, could embolden their aggressive posturing and further strain the global diplomatic framework. As Putin and Kim solidify their partnership, the international community must remain vigilant and develop a coordinated response to address the challenges posed by this emerging axis of authoritarianism?

https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-abandoned-use-of-nuclear-weapon-in-ukraine-after-intervention-from-india-china-report-698455

1. So why is Putin doing this ? When the conflict started, the entire West imposed sanctions on Russia. These sanctions are more extensive than those on Iran, North Korea, and Iraq combined. The West even sanctioned countries doing business with Russia, aiming to isolate Russia geopolitically. Despite this, Russia's GDP data is higher than that of the US and almost all European countries. With Modi, Russia is trying to showcase to the West that they are not alone. 2. Why did Modi receive a grander welcome than Xi? Russia's biggest trading partner is China, and the West claims that Russia has become China's puppet, suggesting that without China, Russia's economy would collapse. Recently leaked Chinese military documents show that China still claims the disputed area between Russia and China belongs to China. Russia wants to send a message to China that they are not fully dependent on them and that China shouldn't push the limits, even in their dreams