Despite considering itself as the world’s truest democracy, India abstained from resolutions deploring Russia’s invasion. Ukraine is an independent democracy as well, but India does not condemn Mr. Putin from raiding Ukraine. India’s decision has brought greater shock during the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, Human Rights Council.
The prime minister, Narendra Modi has struggled to improve ties in America and Europe. But when it must decide which side to choose, India does not take sides. For some analysts, Mr. Modi seems to favor Mr. Putin. Indian policymakers, on the other hand, deny this conclusion. They claimed that it represented India’s tradition of being beholden to no superpower. They argued that they too lament th violence on territorial integrity. Before, during the cold-war era, India chose a non-aligned movement to condemn Russia.
In the past, Russia had given considerable support to India.
It provided food aid and economic subsidies. Indian bookstalls are also full with translated works of Lenin and approved Russian novelists. KBG runs in its fueling influential people with wealth. Today, India revived Russia’s support by calling it ‘India’s special and privileged strategic partnership’.
India’s defense depends a lot on Russia. Its weapons imports such as T-90 battle tanks, Su-30 fighter aircraft and S-40 surface-to-air missile system, half of them are from Russia. 70% of the Indian arsenal is made in Russia. The country might see some business risk if it joined Western to condemn Russia.
Somehow, it’s current choice might inflict weakness. Russia and India ties are not to question but Indian’s government seems struggling to evacuate 20.000 Indian students in Ukraine. Most of them might have escaped, but one is dead during Russia’s shelling of Kharkiv. The Economist said, although India should influence Mr. Putin changed course, most Indians do not care much about the war.
