In Geopolitics Today - Tuesday, February 15th
In Geopolitics Today - Tuesday, February 15th
US Sanctions Companies Linked with China’s Military Development, A Reinvigorated Russian Armed Forces, Saudi Arabia and India to Expand Military Ties
US Sanctions Companies Linked with China’s Military Development
The US Treasury Department has issued a set of regulations which implement sanctions on 59 Chinese military companies. The move is a formalization of a series of sanctions applied on China by both the Trump and Biden administrations, and are aimed at blocking China from being able to build up its armed forces via transactions conducted in US financial markets.
The regulations work to prohibit all US financial and stock companies, as well as any individual investors, from engaging in securities trading that in any way benefits the listed Chinese enterprises or their executives. The companies listed have already been designated as “military entities” by the Pentagon, and include a number of major Chinese telecommunications and aerospace enterprises. The regulations target significant parts of the civilian economy in China, which Washington claims are working with China’s military industrial complex. The regulations call for civil or criminal penalties for anyone who conducts business with the listed enterprises, effectively cutting off access to US markets and limiting China’s ability to develop military, intelligence and advanced tech capabilities.
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A Reinvigorated Russian Armed Forces
Russia has steadily become a more capable military power today than at any time since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The lacklustre performance of the Russian armed forces in the 2008 war with Georgia demonstrated to Russian policymakers and strategists that renewed political will and resources were necessary to restore an aging and disorganised military force. Since then, Russia has undergone a drastic military modernization process. This process has not been even across all military branches however, with strategic, aerospace and naval forces receiving more attention than ground and air forces.
While not the primary target of the modernization program, Russia’s ground forces have nonetheless changed significantly. New equipment has arrived, but modernizing platforms which are already in service and integrating them with more precise long-range weapons has greatly benefitted the army. Similarly, Russia’s air force has seen some improvements in acquiring new advanced equipment, but on the whole the air force is making moderate progress in modernization efforts, with the bulk of its short-range air-to-surface missiles still based on Soviet-era designs. Conversely, Russia’s naval forces have undergone considerable transformation in capability and posture, and are now capable of delivering long-range precision cruise missile strikes from surface and submarine platforms. But arguably the most significant progress has been made in modernizing command and control structures across the armed forces.
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Saudi Arabia and India to Expand Military Ties
India and Saudi Arabia are expanding bilateral defence ties through military exchanges and training courses. Royal Saudi Land Forces commander Lt-General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair has held “significant” discussions with a Indian military officials in talks that are said to have explored arms procurements and defence industrial collaborations. In addition, India is seeking customers for its BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Akash air defence missiles, with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE expressing interest.
The meeting marks the first visit by a serving Saudi commander to India, and is a clear first step toward deepening defence cooperation between the two countries, with defence diplomacy a key factor in the overall relationship. The Saudi commander was reportedly briefed by Indian military officials regarding India’s current capabilities and competencies, showcasing a range of military systems inducted by the Indian armed forces. Saudi Arabia is seeking more weapons from a diverse set of powers as the United States becomes less involved in its defence going forward. While the two countries have already conducted their first-ever naval exercise in August last year and signs point to growing bilateral ties, Saudi Arabia’s strategic partnership with Pakistan may prove a limiting factor in just how much Riyadh can engage with New Delhi.
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