Russia-Ukraine War And India’s Balancing Act

Representative Image | Russia Ukraine Conflict | Photo courtesy: Special arrangement

During the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, for the sixth time, India abstained from a UNGA resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calling for lasting peace in the region. While the global community has criticised India for not taking a stand against Russia, back at home, many top experts and journalists feel that perhaps India’s balancing act has strengthened its position.

“If you look at India’s track record, India has always avoided voting against Russia. India wants to show that when things go wrong, you don’t change your friends, and India’s strategic partnership with Russia goes back many years. In fact, in the last year, we have given an impression to the world that we don’t get pressured by the US and the West as many other countries have been,” says Sanjay Kapoor, Editor of Hardnews magazine and Member and till recently office-bearer of Editors Guild of India.

A list of countries that voted in favour, against and abstained from the UNGA resolution against Russia | Photo courtesy: @ZelenskyyUa | Twitter

The UNGA motion was backed by 141 countries, with 32 nations, including India and China abstaining from voting and seven, including Russia, voting against it. While New Delhi has always been under pressure from the global community to stand with Ukraine and condemn Russia for its war excesses, foreign policy analyst and writer Mohan Guruswamy says that India’s longstanding position of not intervening in the internal affairs of other countries is a good position for India’s larger strategic interests.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj addresses the UNGA | Photo courtesy: United Nations | YouTube

Former Indian Ambassador Anil Trigunayat notes that every country’s foreign policy must serve its national interest, and India’s stand has only made its position stronger globally. “India has always been against external interference. You cannot take a particular incident and change your foreign policy. India sees this as a conflict that was created because of historical circumstances and where red lines were breached by both sides. This, of course, does not give Russia the power to do what it has done, but at the same time, Russia and India are friends, and every country’s foreign policy must serve its national interest,” states Trigunayat.

India has traditionally maintained a position of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other nations, especially when matters related to territorial disputes, political conflicts and human rights violations are concerned. Dr Rajorshi Roy, an Associate Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, states that while India has not taken sides at the UNGA, at the same time, India has not supported Russia. “India believes in dialogue and diplomacy. There was intense pressure earlier where everyone wanted India to take sides, but that kind of pressure is no longer there. At stake is also global strategic security. The Conflict between Russia and Ukraine is no longer a conflict between Russia and Ukraine anymore. This has turned into a conflict between Russia and the West. There could be an inadvertent kinetic collusion between two of the major nuclear powers. We must consider many issues while dealing with this sensitive subject,” adds Roy.