India: Good missile tests and good nuclear bombs

Iran does not even have nuclear weapons but if it tests long range missiles that is bad it might be a threat to Israel. Of course it is OK for Israel to threaten to attack Iran and it has nuclear weapons already although it is usually not polite to point out that fact.

North Korea has nuclear weapons but a test of a long range missile was a great provocation even though the test failed. But now India which has nuclear weapons also tests a long range missile that can carry such weapons and target Chinese cities. The test is a success and certainly in the U.S. there is no outcry at the spread of nuclear weapons or the means of their delivery. This is because to the U.S. these weapons are benign at least for the present while India is an ally.

The U.S. was not always so tolerant of India. In 1974 when India first tested a nuclear weapon the US. imposed sanctions for a full 25 years. But now the U.S. sees India as a check against Chinese influence in Southeast Asia so now the test of a missile that could carry nuclear weapons is a plus. The U.S. and others have traded nuclear materials with India since 2008 in violation of the NPT (Non-proliferation treaty). For more see this article.

India's purchase of Iranian oil brings protests from the U.S.

India has managed to forge a good relationship with the West especially the U.S. Now the U.S. is putting pressure on India to stop purchasing Iranian oil. However that oil is key to India's continued economic growth.
Through support for India the U.S. is able to provide a check to Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific area. To damage relations with India over the purchase of Iranian oil would be very short-sighted in the view of some analysts.
Sreeram Chaulia of the Jindal School of International Affairs notes:“In the last ten years, if the Unites States has achieved anything of strategic value in Asia, it is the closeness with India,” “And I don’t think it would want to jeopardize all that for the sake of punishing Iran.” Chaulia went on:“It would be strategic suicide on the part of the United States to actually go ahead and impose sanctions on Indian companies,” However perhaps many U.S. politicians will demand that Obama bring India in line and punish the country for opposing the boss.
However another analyst noted that the U.S. has already had some success in putting pressure on India. Some Indian companies have withdrawn investment from Iran and financial organisations are struggling to reroute their financial dealings due to sanctions. For more see this article.

U.S. Admiral claims there are U.S. special forces in India

Just recently the Pentagon admitted that the U.S. had boots on the ground in Yemen after a security team was attacked. Now Admiral Willard head of the U.S. Pacific Command said that U.S. special forces had been deployed to India. He went on to say that special forces had also been deployed in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. If you want to travel join the U.S. Special Forces. The purpose of the deployment is to fight a militant group.

The U.S. Embassy in India and the Indian Defense Ministry later denied the claims. Both claim there are no U.S. troops of any type within India. These matters are kept secret to avoid any political repercussions.

The opposition in India is already asking why there was no consultation with parliament before the U.S. troops were allowed to operate in India. Indian External Affairs stated that the U.S. had never sought to deploy any troops nor had India ever approved any deployment. Obviously the good admiral Willard must have been imagining things. Maybe he will be replaced.

Willard really must keep his mouth and his imagination in check. None of the countries mentioned by Willard were known to have any U.S. troops present. Willard's imaginations are no doubt a reality but a reality that is not to be revealed. For more seethis article.

India pressured by U.S. to stop buying Iranian oil

India purchases around 12 per cent of its oil yearly from Iran. This is worth about 12 billion dollars each year. The U.S. would like to see that amount go down to zero.

However, India is not likely to follow the U.S. advice unless it can get oil cheaper from other sources. The U.S. is apparently trying to broker deals with other outside suppliers. Sources told Bloomberg News that Saudi Arabia is willing to step up and provide oil in replacement for the Iranian oil.

Iran apparently is willing to cut the price of the oil it sells to India. This is creating a win situation for India as it can play off Iran against other suppliers.

India had actually been purchasing more oil from Iran. In January there was an increase of 40 per cent from a month earlier.

Pressure on Iran and rumours of war have the potential for a negative impact on the global economy as the price of oil rises. Goldman Sachs has predicted crude could rise to $123.50 a barrel this year. This could very well slow global economic growth. For more see this article.