On the war on Ukraine, New Delhi’s ambivalent and indifferent position, euphemistically called neutral or non-aligned has put a question mark on India’s role in international politics. In the name of pragmatism, or in defence of national interest, New Delhi has not only been soft on Russia’s aggression on Ukraine but has gone ahead to do business with Russia for oil and defence trade etc. New Delhi’s response to the war consisted of not standing up for rule of law, the right to self-determination of countries, abstaining on all resolutions in the UN, occasional soundings for peace and diplomacy does not do well for its image, and worse, it may lose the UNSC Permanent seat to countries like Japan and Germany, whenever it is restructured.

Therefore, it is high time that New Delhi makes amends and repositions itself. In fact, India should enlarge its partnerships across the world; deepen its equations in the neighbourhood, retreat from her dalliance with autocratic and authoritarian regimes, and reposition as a champion of peace, democracy, solidarity and sustainability.

A major part of the problem in defining and redefining India’s foreign policy – her role in and response to world events, stems from the absence of a wider foreign policy community in India, in particular, lack of interest by political actors and the civil society in international issues. Understandably, they are too engaged in internal issues of this vast country of 1.3 billion people to have time or resources to look beyond the borders. Secondly, India is still a developing country despite its rise in GDP to play a decisive role in world affairs. But this assumption is no longer valid. India, for that matter, any country cannot remain isolated in this interdependent as well as the globalised world.

Besides, India’s big neighbour China harbouring ambitions of being the world power should worry New Delhi, given the revanchist and belligerent attitude of Beijing. Remember, China possesses and continues to claim Indian territories. It is high time that foreign policy becomes a part of national discourse with all political parties, regional or national, taking part in it. It is no longer advisable to leave the foreign policy alone to the mandarins of the South Block. I have argued in this column before that South Block should structurally expand its scope for policy making.

Unless India does quick course correction, it runs the risk of self-isolation in world politics. The consequences of the Ukraine war are telling upon international politics –triggering radical decisions, accelerating processes, and derailing development. In Europe where the war is raging, the countries have closed ranks. The unity they have shown was not perhaps anticipated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While Putin’s motives, goals and strategies might fascinate historians, political analysts and psychologists in times to come, the consequences of his war question the present leadership in the world. The answers to such questions will indisputably shape the future. The Europeans know it now.

Likewise, India should anticipate the danger emanating from the consequences of the Ukrainian war. If the war is not ended through negotiations, and if Russia claims victory by annexing Ukraine’s territory, or making it a vassal state, it will embolden China to invade Taiwan and even parts of India. Beijing is anxiously watching the war.

At any rate, cognizing the consequences of the crisis which is already afflicting the world, India should rethink its engagement in world politics.

As said before, any country’s growth and development are a function of its positioning in the world. The European countries, mainly the Union, seem to have learnt this lesson the hard way. They were so engrossed, like India, in their internal issues and challenges facing 27-member states, that they neglected their external role, which in turn, affected their integration process.

The United Kingdom recently exited. Having realised the lapse of focus, they see this war as making a historic turning point for the European Union – a time for ‘European momentum’ in which the EU acknowledges its global role, once and for all and acts accordingly. The Union of India should undergo similar rethinking, heed the call of the times and recalibrate its position to claim a part of the leadership in world politics. Alternatively, New Delhi could simply allow indecisiveness, dithering, and ambiguity to confuse the world about her values, image and aspirations etc.

What does India stand for today? And who does it stand with? In the past, India created a platform for itself called non-alignment. By hindsight and otherwise, it was an unworkable strategy. From non-alignment, India dabbled with a strategy, not so articulated though, called neutrality which is now transformed into multi-alignment in a multi-polar world that New Delhi hopes to come about. However, it is hard for an analyst of international politics to locate India’s position in the world at present.

Unarguably, the premise to position India in the world should comprise two strategic elements – one, the political values India imbibes and should uphold, and second, her national interest. In case of conflict between the two, as evidenced in the Ukrainian war, the values should be privileged in the long term national interest of the country.

Sadly, the present regime here is missing the point. It is justifying India’s position at times by making a choice between Russia-China and the West, at other times, going with both. New Delhi should make another distinction. Russia is not the same as the former USSR, which stood by India through thick and thin. Russia is now known only for oil and gas and is ruled by a controversial and enigmatic autocrat.

On India’s position in the world based on values and interests, India should stand, without a shred of doubt for peace, and non-violence (no war). That is India’s core and unique civilisational strength defined by a spirit of harmony and accommodation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has correctly taken that stand recently. He ticked off Putin and has also told Ukrainian President Zelenskyy about the absolute undesirability of war. On a positive note, he offered help in brokering an agreement.

To start with repositioning, Prime Minister Modi should call for an Asian Confederation for peace and democracy. It is better to begin nearer home. The Federation should comprise the members of SAARC and BIMSTEC, plus others willing to join. Such a Confederation should talk about building peace by securing human rights, freedom, equality and solidarity. It need not discuss trade and economic issues.

Building peace should influence other bilateral and multi-lateral transactions. It is not the other way round as European Union and America (giving primacy to the economy) and on the other hand, Russia and China (focussing on military power) have offered to the world. The focus needs to change. India can become the harbinger of that change. Will it? —INFA

(Dr D.K. Giri is a Prof. International Relations, at JIMMC. Opinions expressed are that of the author)

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