Neutral, not passive: On India’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Source: The post is based on the article “Neutral, not passive: On India’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict” published in The Hindu on 14th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 2 – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Relevance: About the Russia-Ukraine war.

News: Recently, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister visited India. This is the first such by a senior government official visit from Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

How Russia-Ukraine war made India’s international relations complicated?

-Russia is a historical partner of India and India also has deep defence ties. So, India has no easy, immediate alternative to Russia.

-The war has also made India’s ties with its Western partners complicated as the trans-Atlantic powers, led by the United States, have launched an economic war against Russia.

-Ukraine has publicly expressed its displeasure over India’s position on the war. Ukraine also criticised India’s energy purchases from Russia as it involved “Ukrainian blood”.

India refused to condemn Russia and maintained defence and trade ties. On the other hand, India expressed its uneasiness with the war and called for respecting the territorial integrity of all nations.

What should India do?

Utilise India’s presidency: India is the chair of the G-20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. So, India should do more to show global leadership and help to end the war.

India should play a bigger role in peacemaking: The Russia-Ukraine conflict has hurt not only Europe but also the entire world. The countries in the Global South are of the view that the hostilities should cease at the earliest. For example, both China and Brazil have hinted at playing a bigger role in brokering peace. So India should also join in the peace process.

India should uphold international laws and sovereignty: India’s strategic neutrality means, it should a) empathise more vocally with the victim, b) raise the voice and interests of the Global South, and c) call for upholding international laws and sovereignty of all states. So, India should push for a pragmatic and permanent solution to the conflict.