Most in east Ukraine region against joining Russia

[lostinblue 1,989]

Russia, India, China planning epic $30 Billion Oil Pipeline that could shift the Geopolitical balanceApril 25, 2014 1:19 pm Category: Editor's Pick, Geopolitics 3 Comments A+ / A-

Russia and India are planning to construct a $30 billion oil pipeline through China’s restive Xinjiang province. If successful, the pipeline will be the most expensive in the world.

The groundwork for the project was laid on October 21, 2013, during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Moscow for the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit. Singh and Putin issued a joint statement that said, “Russia and India have agreed to establish a joint group to study the possibility of direct ground transportation of hydrocarbons.”

That announcement reaffirmed the two countries’ joint commitment to implement the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of India on the Enhancement of Cooperation in Oil and Gas Sector, which was concluded on December 21, 2010.

The project has been on the drawing boards for nearly a decade, as Russia and India first began discussing it in 2005.

Four years later, in 2009, the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China agreed to enhance energy cooperation. Sergei Lavrov, S.M. Krishna and Yang Jiechi met in Bangalore to discuss energy security, the fight against terrorism and climate change. In a joint declaration, the diplomats said, “India, Russia and China are seeking to intensify international energy cooperation on a new basis to help make the energy market more open, transparent and competitive and reflect the common interests of all the parties involved.”

At the end of last year, India’s biggest oil and gas company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) confirmed its interest in the pipeline project, saying, “The pipeline from Russia seems appropriate. The details of the project will be clarified with the Russian partners.”

Political support in Russia for the Xinjiang pipeline project has increased in the wake of worsening relations with the U.S. and EU over Crimea. On February 26, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin observed, “This is one of the major infrastructure projects that can be implemented.” But he also added, “I think it has a right to exist, but we should make calculations to see how profitable it can be.”

The pipeline also has political support in China. China’s Center for Strategic Studies in Energy Director Xia Yishan recently said, “The project is beneficial for both India and China, as it would allow China to become an oil transit in addition to its ‘status’ of recipient of the Russian oil.”

The pipeline project will strengthen India’s intention to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), of which Russia and China are charter members.

India on the Grand Geopolitical Energy Chessboard

Meanwhile, as reported by Bodhita earlier while the US is talking with India & China to isolate Russia, Russia & India are planning to go over to transactions in roubles and rupees over the next fifteen years that could very well remove the dollar.

Russia and India may go over to transactions in roubles and rupees over the next fifteen years, the President of the Indian Business Alliance (IBA) in Moscow, Sammy Manoj Kotwani said Monday after a session of the International Council for Trade and Investment, which reports to the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE).

“Quite naturally, it would be too unrealistic to give up the US at once but a possibility of this kind does exist,” he said. “If there’s a wish to do effectuate this transition, the dollar can be removed.”

Sammy Kotwani said the decision of Visa and MasterCard executives to work with the agents blacklisted by the US Administration was an error on their part.

“It was their error and they’ve already realized it,” he said.

IBA Moscow represents the interests of 150 Indian companies working in Russia.

Moreover, the Yuan may already have become a de facto reserve currency with atleast 40 central banks investing in the yuan and several others preparing to do so, putting the mainland currency on the path to reserve status even before full convertibility.

What remains to be answered however is what are the threats that comes with such shifts in Global Power ? And is India prepared to counter such threats much less perceive it ?

http://bodhita.com/russia-india-china-planning-epic-30-billion-oil-pipeline-that-could-shift-the-geopolitical-balance/

[luckytxn 2,263]

I remember them talking about this but I doubt they will spend that much money but now that the U.S. is pretty much a bystander on the world stage now it could.

Russia, India, China planning epic $30 Billion Oil Pipeline that could shift the Geopolitical balance April 25, 2014 1:19 pm Category: Editor's Pick, Geopolitics 3 Comments A+ / A-

Russia and India are planning to construct a $30 billion oil pipeline through China’s restive Xinjiang province. If successful, the pipeline will be the most expensive in the world.

The groundwork for the project was laid on October 21, 2013, during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Moscow for the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit. Singh and Putin issued a joint statement that said, “Russia and India have agreed to establish a joint group to study the possibility of direct ground transportation of hydrocarbons.”

That announcement reaffirmed the two countries’ joint commitment to implement the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of India on the Enhancement of Cooperation in Oil and Gas Sector, which was concluded on December 21, 2010.

The project has been on the drawing boards for nearly a decade, as Russia and India first began discussing it in 2005.

Four years later, in 2009, the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China agreed to enhance energy cooperation. Sergei Lavrov, S.M. Krishna and Yang Jiechi met in Bangalore to discuss energy security, the fight against terrorism and climate change. In a joint declaration, the diplomats said, “India, Russia and China are seeking to intensify international energy cooperation on a new basis to help make the energy market more open, transparent and competitive and reflect the common interests of all the parties involved.”

At the end of last year, India’s biggest oil and gas company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) confirmed its interest in the pipeline project, saying, “The pipeline from Russia seems appropriate. The details of the project will be clarified with the Russian partners.”

Political support in Russia for the Xinjiang pipeline project has increased in the wake of worsening relations with the U.S. and EU over Crimea. On February 26, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin observed, “This is one of the major infrastructure projects that can be implemented.” But he also added, “I think it has a right to exist, but we should make calculations to see how profitable it can be.”

The pipeline also has political support in China. China’s Center for Strategic Studies in Energy Director Xia Yishan recently said, “The project is beneficial for both India and China, as it would allow China to become an oil transit in addition to its ‘status’ of recipient of the Russian oil.”

The pipeline project will strengthen India’s intention to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), of which Russia and China are charter members.

India on the Grand Geopolitical Energy Chessboard

Meanwhile, as reported by Bodhita earlier while the US is talking with India & China to isolate Russia, Russia & India are planning to go over to transactions in roubles and rupees over the next fifteen years that could very well remove the dollar.

Russia and India may go over to transactions in roubles and rupees over the next fifteen years, the President of the Indian Business Alliance (IBA) in Moscow, Sammy Manoj Kotwani said Monday after a session of the International Council for Trade and Investment, which reports to the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE).

“Quite naturally, it would be too unrealistic to give up the US at once but a possibility of this kind does exist,” he said. “If there’s a wish to do effectuate this transition, the dollar can be removed.”

Sammy Kotwani said the decision of Visa and MasterCard executives to work with the agents blacklisted by the US Administration was an error on their part.

“It was their error and they’ve already realized it,” he said.

IBA Moscow represents the interests of 150 Indian companies working in Russia.

Moreover, the Yuan may already have become a de facto reserve currency with atleast 40 central banks investing in the yuan and several others preparing to do so, putting the mainland currency on the path to reserve status even before full convertibility.

What remains to be answered however is what are the threats that comes with such shifts in Global Power ? And is India prepared to counter such threats much less perceive it ?

http://bodhita.com/russia-india-china-planning-epic-30-billion-oil-pipeline-that-could-shift-the-geopolitical-balance/

[Pooky 3,362]

A pipeline through China to India?

Yeah, I don't see any problems with that at all.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Yeah nothing could possibly go wrong with this.

A pipeline through China to India?

Yeah, I don't see any problems with that at all.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Yeah nothing could possibly go wrong with this.

Depends on your perspective. If you are China, you are willing partner, and when the pipeline is completed, you can hold both Russia and India hostage, should the need arise.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Hence our questioning this working. Historically China and Russia are enemies and I am sure it wouldn't take too much to make them that way again.

Depends on your perspective. If you are China, you are willing partner, and when the pipeline is completed, you can hold both Russia and India hostage, should the need arise.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hence our questioning this working. Historically China and Russia are enemies and I am sure it wouldn't take too much to make them that way again.

It is more like a less than satisfactory marriage. They have been partners in so many ventures in the latter half of the last century. China has become economically shrewd. They need to launder the dollars they hold in trade surplus with the US, to a currency that is a little more sound, even if China has to create that currency. So, this sort of project is something the Chinese would like to invest in. India is a bigger question mark. Will India give up their territorial disputes with the Chinese, in return for a reliable source of energy? India is such a paper tiger, I think they would jump at the chance to normalize relations with China.

Edited April 26, 2014 by The Postmaster

[Pooky 3,362]

Hence our questioning this working. Historically China and Russia are enemies and I am sure it wouldn't take too much to make them that way again.

Not only that. India and China have an ongoing border dispute. It won't be long before the occasion incursions end with an exchange of live fire.

When you add in China being one of Pakistan's biggest arms suppliers, it becomes clear that this three-way is probably not the most stable.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Where have you read that the yuan is a stable currency? Everything I have read is that it wouldn't take too much to collpse it. Ruble the same but Russia has a lot of resources to back their currency at least. I have no idea about India.

I can't imagine India and China forgiving and forgetting their past problems. Definitely India and Pakistan I am positive will not ever get along.

It is more like a less than satisfactory marriage. They have been partners in so many ventures in the latter half of the last century. China has become economically shrewd. They need to launder the dollars they hold in trade surplus with the US, to a currency that is a little more sound, even if China has to create that currency. So, this sort of project is something the Chinese would like to invest in. India is a bigger question mark. Will India give up their territorial disputes with the Chinese, in return for a reliable source of energy? India is such a paper tiger, I think they would jump at the chance to normalize relations with China.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Maybe China and India will come to terms. There are other places China wants and needs to concentrate on like the south China sea.

Not only that. India and China have an ongoing border dispute. It won't be long before the occasion incursions end with an exchange of live fire.

When you add in China being one of Pakistan's biggest arms suppliers, it becomes clear that this three-way is probably not the most stable.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Where have you read that the yuan is a stable currency? Everything I have read is that it wouldn't take too much to collpse it. Ruble the same but Russia has a lot of resources to back their currency at least. I have no idea about India.

China has a notion of creating a new reserve currency, not bound to one nation's currency. They offered either creating a market basket of currencies, or perhaps creating a new currency to which all world currencies world be indexed.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I can't imagine India and China forgiving and forgetting their past problems. Definitely India and Pakistan I am positive will not ever get along.

India has no choice as far as either China, or Pakistan, more so China. India just doesn't have a viable military force, and given India's internal struggles, and reluctance to create a strong military, it probably never will.

Think of it this way. India does not want to become Pakistan.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

India has no choice as far as either China, or Pakistan, more so China. India just doesn't have a viable military force, and given India's internal struggles, and reluctance to create a strong military, it probably never will.

Think of it this way. India does not want to become Pakistan.

Never mind. India has picked up the pace, now the world's 4th largest military, however, they are still at half the strength of number 3, China. Pakistan is down around 15, and India has been kicking Pakistan's butt fairly regularly recently.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Didn't India last year say they were going to buy new jets and upgrade their air force? If they don't then maybe they should just give China teh territory they seek.

India has no choice as far as either China, or Pakistan, more so China. India just doesn't have a viable military force, and given India's internal struggles, and reluctance to create a strong military, it probably never will.

Think of it this way. India does not want to become Pakistan.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Well good luck China on doing that.

China has a notion of creating a new reserve currency, not bound to one nation's currency. They offered either creating a market basket of currencies, or perhaps creating a new currency to which all world currencies world be indexed.

Yeah Pakistan is still pissed at losing east Pakistan.

Never mind. India has picked up the pace, now the world's 4th largest military, however, they are still at half the strength of number 3, China. Pakistan is down around 15, and India has been kicking Pakistan's butt fairly regularly recently.