[DesScorp]

I was hoping that India would be a natural US ally, as they’ve got China next door (who is Pakistan’s biggest ally) competing with/threatening them. But no, they choose to align themselves with Russia, who has buddied up to.... China. Good going there, India.

[SatinDoll]

Ah, you beat me to it!

[James C. Bennett]

It’s because the US aids and abets Pakistan’s military machinery, which then has the ability to divert funds to feed terrorism into India.

As for autonomous aircraft / UAVs / UCAVs, Israel is whom India will be approached by. Israel has already worked together with India and Russia on the PHALCON AWACS system.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I was hoping that India would be a natural US ally, as they’ve got China next door (who is Pakistan’s biggest ally) competing with/threatening them. But no, they choose to align themselves with Russia, who has buddied up to.... China. Good going there, India.

I doubt this has anything to do with political alignments - from what I've read, India is deeply suspicious of the US history of shutting off the supply of spare parts and even disabling equipment if it's used for any purpose the US doesn't approve of. It would give the US an effective veto over any Indian military action against Pakistan or China. The result is that India will spend billions on US military equipment like C-17 but not on fighter aircraft - for that, India goes with nations like France and Russia which have demonstrated that they will not try to use their positions as military suppliers to pressure India on policy.

[cunning_fish]

>>>>>I was hoping that India would be a natural US ally, as they’ve got China next door (who is Pakistan’s biggest ally) competing with/threatening them. But no, they choose to align themselves with Russia, who has buddied up to.... China. Good going there, India.>>>>>>

FRiends, take some history lessons, please!

US is Pakistan’s biggest ally, not China. US is de-facto Chinese biggest ally as well with all that Walmart diplomacy.

Russia sees both Pakistan and a China as a threat. Anyone who able to read between lines can see that Russian-Chinese alliance is a bluster. Both nations are technically in a Cold War since late 50s as Soviets ditched gulags and hardcore communism for soft socialism.

That actually makes India and Russia natural allies.

[ravager]

Unlike that Arab-Israeli conflict or the NK-SK conflict, US hasn't pledged 100 % support for Indian position in an Indo-Pak conflict. And if anything Pakistan is still politically America's bigger ally inspite of all the shenanigans. So all the talk of ‘natural alliance’ between India and US is still premature. In contrast Russian, France and Israel have pledge complete backing for India in an Indo-Pakconflict. And that's a huge difference US just doesn't ‘get’. India doesn't want her critical combat systems compromised or left wanting for spares because US suddenly decides to be on Pakistan's side. And it's not like such a thing never happened before.

[Oztrich Boy]

I was hoping that India would be a natural US ally

As does your President “all countries are close allies”–

India sees China and Pakistan as "the threat". It will naturally be reluctant to completely trust a close ally of Pakistan.