Strategic choice: India is right not to pick a side on Ukraine

News: Indian chose to adopt a balanced and independent approach in the United Nation Security Council on Ukraine Russia conflict. USA indirectly argued that India views the Russia-Ukraine matter the same way it views China’s expansionist designs in Asia.

What is the Indian statement?

India in the UNSC said that the safety of Indian nationals is its uttermost priority. It urged all the parties to continue to engage through all possible diplomatic channels. India believes a solution can be found through dialogue under the Normandy format and the Minsk Agreements. It advised all the parties to avoid all the steps that can lead to increased tension and put a risk to international peace and security.

How USA view is not correct?

China is an immediate threat to India’s geopolitical realities, while Ukraine doesn’t fall in that category. China today presents the biggest systemic threat to the international order. Countries, from the UK to Vietnam and from Mongolia to Australia, all recognized that China’s actions are threatening global stability. It’s because this Quad was created as a platform to reinforce the rules-based order.

Russia, on the other hand, doesn’t pose a similar challenge. Russia and China together have a strategic and economic compact, but there are also several issues that they need to resolve bilaterally, like border issues. For example ; China’s eyes on Russia’s energy resources, China’s increasing influence in Central Asia which is earlier in Russia’s strategic domain, etc. So, the USA should not consider them as a combined threat.

Source: This post is based on the article “Strategic choice: India is right not to pick a side on Ukraine” and “Russia welcomes India’s stand on eastern Ukraine situation” published in Times of India and The Hindu on 19th February 2022.