Ukraine conflict: Can India balance ties between Russia and the West? | Asia | An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW

As preventing intensifies on the bottom following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India has been left in a tricky spot, with New Delhi struggling to keep up its conventional balancing act between Moscow and the West.   

India has tried to keep away from taking sides at the same time as Russia finds itself more and more remoted from the remainder of the world for its struggle on the previous Soviet republic. New Delhi has thus far prevented criticizing Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

Final week, India abstained on a UN Safety Council decision slamming Russia’s “aggression” towards Ukraine, profitable reward from Moscow. New Delhi additionally abstained from a procedural vote taken within the UNSC to name for a uncommon particular emergency session of the UN Normal Meeting to satisfy on the disaster.

Addressing a particular briefing on the disaster over the weekend, Indian Overseas Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla identified that dialogue between the warring sides was the one approach forward.

“We’ve been engaged with all events. Our prime minister has spoken with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. We’re basically a rustic that has direct curiosity within the area,” mentioned Shringla.

“We’ve buddies and equities within the space,” he added.

India’s choice to abstain on the Friday Safety Council vote left it alongside solely Beijing and the United Arab Emirates, whereas Russia vetoed the decision.

Strategic ambivalence

It is possible that New Delhi will for now follow a path of strategic ambivalence on the Ukraine disaster.

“I believe India’s place has been spelt out clearly in our clarification of vote after the primary UNSC decision the place we abstained,” former diplomat Deepa Wadhwa informed DW.

New Delhi’s place is formed by its issues over territorial integrity and sovereignty, its unresolved borders and the tough relationship with its two northern neighbors.

“There are comprehensible causes for India’s refined pro-Russia place. An aggressive Russia is an issue for the US and the West, not for India. NATO’s growth is Russia’s drawback, not India’s. India’s drawback is China,” international coverage and worldwide relations skilled Happymon Jacob informed DW.

Jacob maintained that the weakening of the US-led world order and the rise of China as a counter-pole throws up a singular and unprecedent problem for India. In opposition to this backdrop, having Russia on New Delhi’s facet is essential, the skilled mentioned.

Shut protection and power ties

India and Russia have deep historic ties that return to the early a long time of the Chilly Struggle, when New Delhi leant in direction of the Soviet Union whereas Pakistan was within the Western camp.

Russia remains to be by far India’s largest provider of navy gear, components and know-how. Based on the Enterprise Normal, between 2016 and 2020, virtually 50% of its protection purchases had been from Russia.

As an example, Russian T-90 tanks kind the mainstay of the Indian military, and Russian MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets play an important position in its air drive arsenal.

India not too long ago started taking supply from Russia of the S-400 missile protection system that it agreed to purchase for over $5 billion (€4.5 billion) in 2018, regardless of the specter of US sanctions.

“India has diversified its sources of protection tools in recent times, with the USA, Israel and France rising as main new companions. Nonetheless, 60% of our protection tools remains to be of Russian origin and Russia is a strategic companion primarily within the protection and power sectors,” Meera Shankar, a former Indian envoy to the US, informed DW.

“We’re additionally conscious of the historic context underneath which Russia’s official issues about NATO growth to its doorstep had been ignored and alternatives to avert a battle had been misplaced,” added Shankar.

India can be a serious shopper of Russian oil. Whole annual bilateral commerce runs at round $9 billion, with a lot smaller portions of prescribed drugs, tea and low going the opposite approach.

Each Modi and Putin met final yr to debate protection and commerce relations. They signed an settlement to increase their cooperation within the fields of navy know-how and power for the subsequent decade.

Previously, Russia has additionally repeatedly vetoed UN resolutions condemning New Delhi over its conduct in India-administered Kashmir the place a violent insurgency has raged for many years.

Precedence is to evacuate Indian nationals

Along with the influence on India’s financial system and commerce, the continued battle has a direct influence on 1000’s of Indian residents. Over 20,000 college students from the South Asian nation are in Ukraine learning medication or engineering, accounting for roughly 24% of whole worldwide college students there.

Whereas New Delhi has evacuated round 4,000 Indians within the final month, about 16,000 nonetheless stay trapped within the former Soviet republic, in response to the most recent knowledge from India’s Overseas Ministry.

Regardless of rising strain from the West, Indian officers and international coverage specialists imagine New Delhi ought to pursue a realistic path and keep away from making hasty selections.

For now, India’s priorities are fast evacuation of its nationals from the struggle zone, cessation of hostilities and restoration of dialogue between the 2 sides.

D B Venkatesh Varma, a former diplomat who served as India’s ambassador to Russia till final yr, believes that India has taken a well-considered and balanced place on the evolving disaster.

“European safety is at stake. The diplomatic tightrope is there, not right here,” mentioned Varma.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru