India&#39;s nuanced response: Relations with Russia and US amidst Russia-Ukraine war

India's nuanced response: Relations with Russia and US amidst Russia-Ukraine war

By Prof Sudhanshu Tripathi*
The ongoing war in Ukraine has not only caused large-scale destruction within the region but has also resulted into rippling effects throughout the world, leading to arouse a complex net of international relations and alliances. While India having its historical-traditional ties with Russia and its growing partnership with America finds itself walking a tightrope, as it interacts simultaneously with both the major powers during the war in Ukraine, unfortunately it is still yearning to discharge its due role to reduce tensions between the two belligerents.
As a matter of fact, New Delhi has long maintained strong and multi-faceted relations with the erstwhile USSR which disintegrated during 1989-90 and was then succeeded by Russia as it today stands in the international community of nations. The partnership between the two countries spans many decades since the end of the IInd World War and encompasses various domains such as defense, cultural exchanges and energy. Indeed Russia continues to be a significant supplier of military hardware to India even today while both nations have collaborated on numerous global issues, including counterterrorism and regional stability.
However, the ongoing war in Ukraine has obviously strained India's relations with Russia, as New Delhi maintains its silence over continuing aggression by Moscow and also over the US led western power’s massive logistical support to Ukraine. That continues to sustain this war, on the one hand, and accrues immense benefits to America and other western states from sale of arms and ammunition, on the other. Thus India has meticulously chosen a prudent stand, neither overtly condemning nor fully endorsing Russia's actions in Ukraine. In fact, Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for separatist movements in eastern Ukraine have raised concerns among the international community, including India.
Indeed, India, known for its adherence to non-alignment and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, has had to tread carefully when it comes to supporting Russia's actions. In fact, New Delhi has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomatic means. While reiterating its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, India has underscored the importance of all parties involved engaging in constructive dialogue to find a solution that respects sovereignty and upholds international norms.
This balanced stance is aimed at avoiding alienating Russia while maintaining India's commitment to globalism. It highlights India's insistence on diplomatic solutions rather than endorsing or participating in any military actions. India's historical ties with Russia play a role in shaping its approach, as it seeks to maintain a strong relationship while also adhering to its principles of non-interference.
On the other hand, India's relations with the United States have seen significant progress during the war in Ukraine. Over the past decade, India and the U.S. have deepened their strategic ties, encompassing areas such as defense cooperation, trade, and technology transfer. The United States has emerged as one of India's key partners, particularly in the defense sector.
During the Ukraine crisis, the United States has taken a strong stand against Russia's actions, imposing sanctions and providing military aid to Ukraine. While India has not explicitly aligned itself with the U.S., its growing partnership has resulted in a more nuanced position. India has expressed concerns over Russia's actions but has refrained from openly criticizing Russia, given its historical ties and the need to balance relations with both countries.
India's careful approach is influenced by several factors, including its long-standing policy of non-alignment and strategic autonomy. India values its ability to make independent decisions based on its national interests and maintain cordial relations in the community of nations. By avoiding outright alignment with the United States in the conflict, India aims to preserve its strategic autonomy while leveraging its relationship with America to advance its own interests.
Furthermore, energy security is a crucial consideration for India in the context of the war in Ukraine. Russia is one of India's major suppliers of crude oil, and any disruptions in the energy market due to the conflict could have significant economic implications. India has sought to diversify its energy sources, reducing its dependence on any single country, including Russia. It has increased imports from other nations, such as the United States, to mitigate potential risks and ensure energy stability.
In this scenario, India's approach to the war in Ukraine underscores its commitment to maintain a delicate balance between its relations with Russia and the United States. The country's traditional and historical ties with Russia and its growing strategic partnership with the United States have shaped its nuanced stance. Although the just concluded India’s PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US has put fresh impetus to the closely evolving bilateral relations between the two largest democracies in the world, yet that never compromises with its long trusted relations with Russia. In fact, India has always put stress upon the need for peaceful dialogue and diplomacy, while expressing concerns over Russia's violent actions and also ignoring the US led NATO powers continuing support to Ukraine.
But this much is not enough for India and it must come forward to take suitable steps to accomplish immediate cessation of hostilities between the two belligerents, Russia and Ukraine. That it can do as it continues to enjoy significant influence and clout in all over the world due to being a staunch supporter of the world peace and welfare of the global humanity all through the past ages up till now, besides being the progenitor of the doctrine of the Nonalignment and also being the founder member of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) as well. Its magnanimity during Covid-19 pandemic was acknowledged by the whole world, including WHO. For this end, India must mobilize support from the like-minded countries like Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and more in the world, given its the peace-loving global image and long-held spiritual-moral position as Spiritual Guru. This may happen as nothing is beyond human endeavor.
---
*MDPG College, Pratapgarh (UP)

Comments

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857 By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

The curious case of multiple entries of a female voter of Maharashtra: What ECI's online voter records reveal

By Venkatesh Nayak* Cyberspace is agog with data, names and documents which question the reliability of the electoral rolls prepared by the electoral bureaucracy in Maharashtra prior to the General Elections conducted in 2024. One such example of deep dive probing has brought to the surface, the name of one female voter in the 132-Nalasopara (Gen) Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Maharashtra. Nalasopara is part of the Palghar (ST) Lok Sabha constituency. This media report claims that this individual's name figures multiple times in the voter list of the same constituency.

Spirit of leadership vs bondage: Of empowered chairman of 100-acre social forestry coop

By Gagan Sethi* This is about Khoda Sava, a young Dalit belonging to the Vankar sub-caste, who worked as a bonded labourer in a village near Vadgam in Banskantha district of North Gujarat. The year was 1982. Khoda had taken a loan of Rs 7,000 from the village sarpanch, a powerful landlord doing money-lending as his side business. Khoda, who had taken the loan for marriage, was landless. Normally, villagers would mortgage their land if they took loan from the sarpanch. But Khoda had no land. He had no option but to enter into a bondage agreement with the sarpanch in order to repay the loan. Working in bondage on the sarpanch’s field meant that he would be paid Rs 1,200 per annum, from which his loan amount with interest would be deducted. He was also obliged not to leave the sarpanch’s field and work as daily wager somewhere else. At the same time, Khoda was offered meal once a day, and his wife job as agricultural worker on a “priority basis”. That year, I was working as secretary...

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

Ground reality: Israel would a remain Jewish state, attempt to overthrow it will be futile

By NS Venkataraman* Now that truce has been arrived at between Israel and Hamas for a period of four days and with release of a few hostages from both sides, there is hope that truce would be further extended and the intensity of war would become significantly less. This likely “truce period” gives an opportunity for the sworn supporters and bitter opponents of Hamas as well as Israel and the observers around the world to introspect on the happenings and whether this war could have been avoided. There is prolonged debate for the last several decades as to whom the present region that has been provided to Jews after the World War II belong. View of some people is that Jews have been occupants earlier and therefore, the region should belong to Jews only. However, Christians and those belonging to Islam have also lived in this regions for long period. While Christians make no claim, the dispute is between Jews and those who claim themselves to be Palestinians. In any case...

Two more "aadhaar-linked" Jharkhand deaths: 17 die of starvation since Sept 2017

Kaleshwar's sons Santosh and Mantosh Counterview Desk A fact-finding team of the Right to Feed Campaign, pointing towards the death of two more persons due to starvation in Jharkhand, has said that this has happened because of the absence of aadhaar, leading to “persistent lack of food at home and unavailability of any means of earning.” It has disputed the state government claims that these deaths are due to reasons other than starvation, adding, the authorities have “done nothing” to reduce the alarming state of food insecurity in the state.

Govt of India "tarnishing" NGO reputation, dossier leaked selectively: Amnesty

Counterview Desk Amnesty International India has said that a deliberate attempt is being made to tarnish its reputation by leaking a dossier, supposedly made by investigating agencies, to media without giving it access to any such information. The high profile NGO’s claim follows a Times Now report about proceedings launched by investigative agencies, including Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the rights body for “violations” of rules pertaining to overseas donations.

Proposed Modi yatra from Jharkhand an 'insult' of Adivasi hero Birsa Munda: JMM

Counterview Desk The civil rights network, Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JMM), which claims to have 30 grassroots groups under its wings, has decided to launch Save Democracy campaign to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra to be launched on November 15 from the village of legendary 19th century tribal independence leader Birsa Munda from Ulihatu (Khunti district).

How AMU student politics prioritises Islamist ideologies rather than addressing campus-specific concerns

By Yanis Iqbal* In his recent piece titled "Unmasking the Power Struggles of Soqme Teachers Behind the AMU Students’ Agitation," Mohammad Sajjad, professor of modern and contemporary Indian history at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has has approached the recent protests against fee increases at AMU with a skeptical eye. He portrays them not as a pure, student-led reaction to financial burdens, but as possibly intertwined with deeper institutional rivalries. While recognizing that the university administration faces ongoing demands from the government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to boost self-generated revenue via fee adjustments, he highlights a key shortfall: neither the administration nor the protesters have shared clear, comparative data on fee structures or their rationale.

Search This Blog