Allowing the unnatural Russia-China alignment to continue without trying to disrupt it is stupid. Actually getting in the way of Russia-China friction is echelon above stupid.
This is a stupid way of looking at our strategy for dealing with Russia and China:
Russia last week announced a major new energy cooperation deal with India that threatens the very core of the U.S.’s fightback strategy against Beijing’s and Moscow’s expansionism in the Middle East and beyond.
I'm almost driven speechless by the stupidity that motivates criticism of Russian-Indian ties.
India is an enemy of China. China is trying to use its new power to bully India.
The Russian-Chinese "alliance" is abnormal and a danger if it continues to turn Russia into China's vassal state. It is good to get the Chinese angry with Russian ties to India, whether with Russian arms sales or energy deals, as I wrote recently:
Plan B: "Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded India as 'a great power' on Monday as he arrived in New Delhi to bolster military and energy ties with a traditional ally being courted by Washington." Russia needs to keep India friendly for the time Russia needs to pivot to confront China. Also, it would be sheer idiocy for America to sanction India for buying Russian weapons that will face China. Never underestimate the damage Smart Diplomacy® can inflict.
It is good to strengthen India to face China. China threatens America and India, and we don't want India losing to China or being pressured into submission.
And it is good to strain Russian-Chinese ties by having Russia strengthen India, as Russia is doing:
Russia will remain an important security and diplomatic partner of India’s for the foreseeable future. Even as New Delhi has diversified its defense suppliers in recent years—with major purchases of U.S., European, and Israeli hardware—the Indian military still remains heavily dependent on Russia to maintain its legacy military platforms. Russia is also the only country willing to offer India nuclear submarine technology, while Pentagon officials admit they did not have a direct alternative to the S-400 to offer India.
Apparently, Russia can't let go of the fake NATO threat. So Russia needs a bigger whack with the clue bat to pivot to the Chinese threat to Russia. Perhaps China will be angry enough to give Russia that whack.
Strengthening India and splitting Russia from China are actual cores of American strategy to fight back against Russian and Chinese hostility. Or should be.
For God's sake, end America's Smart Diplomacy® before we cripple our national security.
UPDATE: Oops. I corrected the post to what I hope was the obvious "Strengthening India and ..." conclusion. Fast fingers.
