- The ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict appears going nowhere with both countries sticking to their respective stands. Despite efforts from the global community to usher in some semblance of rationality and utterly unproductive conflict dragging on endlessly, Ukraine and Russia have steadfastly stuck to fighting it out on the battlefields. Thousands of lives are already lost and billions of dollars of economic downturn resulting from the conflict has singed not only the two countries at war but also the global community at large are made to feel the heat. Did someone mention what happened to the rules-based world order? What is it? Who in their right senses would be worrying about parochial considerations rather than the welfare of people?
PC: PTI
- And then there is China whose unambiguous extension of ties with Russia has added an entirely new dimension to the largely polarized multipolar world. Of course, the Indian leadership has steadily ascertained the futility of war and advised the parties to find a way to resume peace talks. Famously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called that this is not an era of war. Against this backdrop, Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister visiting New Delhi makes for more than a routine stoppage. Note that the first high-level visit from Ukraine since the Russian invasion comes when the Union Government is walking a difficult tightrope over the war. Make no mistake, circumstances have created opportunities for greater cooperation with Kyiv.
- From evacuating thousands of Indian medical students to New Delhi and sending multiple consignments of humanitarian aid to Kyiv, contacts between the two sides have steadily grown. As mentioned above, the Indian position was formulated using diplomacy to end the conflict. Plus, with its current G20 presidency, India is responsible for speaking of the Global South, which was hit by high food, fuel, and fertilizer prices due to the Ukraine war. On another front, before the conflict broke out, India was importing important military components such as gas-turbine engines from Ukraine for its navy warships. While the fighting has hurt these imports, there is still room to develop other defensive supply chains with Kyiv.
PC: freepik
- Mind you, the Moscow-Beijing compact is shaping up to be a serious challenge for the rules-based order from Europe to Asia. This has direct implications for Indian interests as well as those of its development partners like Japan. With China’s continuing belligerence on India’s borders and Moscow on its way to becoming Beijing’s junior partner, New Delhi must keep its strategic options open. Yes, India should increasingly use its diplomatic heft by playing a more proactive role in ending the conflict. Also, quiet diplomacy and providing an alternative template for peace to the one being pushed by China must be considered. What if PM Modi, out of the blue, travels to Kyiv in a powerful signal? Yes, it will be an interesting move but will not go well with Moscow surely.
