India-U.S. roller coaster!

.S.UTwo days ago, I posted on the unease of our external affairs ministry to choose a firm direction in its leanings, of which there are two: the pro-West, led by the U.S. or the Russian one. India, from the people, could be more inclined towards the West, Europe, the U.S., U.K., Japan, Australia etc. However, from the government’s angle, the country may be finding Russia as a more loyal friend in need, and thus a few happenings seem to echo the same.

Amid the heightened Ukraine war and the West’s severe sanctions against Russia, India did not bat an eyelid and went ahead with its S-400 missile procurement. The U.S. threatened to place India with sanctions, which turned out to be a damp squib. India perhaps knew its importance in the U.S.-led QUAD in containing the Chinese hegemony on the South China seas. India came under criticism from the West for its procurement of Russian oil until India retorted, revealing the high amount of Russian energy imported by the E.U. nations. India stood its ground in its nation’s best interests.

India’s continued abstaining from taking a stand against Russia is not being taken kindly by the West. The U.S., on a weak stand of Pakistan’s war against terrorism, aided $450 m, riling India. The EAM shed his sobriety and took on the U.S. for aid, which he stated would not go into the fight against terrorism but promote terrorism in India. A nonchalant U.S. Ambassador chose to visit the PoK, calling it Azad Kashmir, as Pakistan calls it, provoking India.

The U.S. has the right to choose its foreign policy to suit its interests. It has a historical dismissive attitude towards its allies, like forcing Australia to scrap the French submarine deal for the U.S. nuclear subs. Yet, despite all the minuses, former President Donald Trump seemed a more trustable friend than the quieter and scheming Joe Biden.

India further caused a flutter while abstaining from a U.N. discussion on China’s human rights issues with Uighur Muslims. The internment, reorientation and labour camps are well-established facts. Therefore, India abstaining from the vote against China is surprising and could throw some light on our drifting towards a newer axis led by Russia, China and India. China might reward India in the foreseeable future to calm the shaky Ladakh plateaus.

By understaffing its embassy and consulates, the U.S. has stretched the visa queues longer than ever and is in no hurry to add staff any time soon. Instead, it may go with the post-Trump U.S. policy of snuggling closer with its NATO allies, the alliance getting a resurgent boost with the Ukraine war. Soon the war will be over, throwing over opportunities for billions of dollars in rebuilding the infrastructure and economy of Ukraine.

Honestly, India may have no role in Quad, a boxing ring for the U.S., its ally Australia and Japan versus China. India might have joined QUAD under pressure from the former U.S. president Trump and the slain Japanese PM Abe, with whom our PM Modi had a very cordial and personal relationship. We must get out of the war alliance and concentrate on our strengthening our economy. However, who does not love to hog the limelight?

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix