While things are going out of hand concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US has raised the alarm by stating that Russia could invade Ukraine during the Beijing winter Olympics while urging its citizen to leave the country. Amid the quagmire which involves the US, India has so far preferred to maintain silence and sit on the fence.
India’s decision of acting as a spectator as the events unfold between Russia-Ukraine came out clean when it decided to abstain from the procedural vote on Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council on January 31 which has sent clear signals that India does not want to entangle itself in the conflict which not only is complex, but tricky amid changing alliances between the global powers.
For India, the Russia-Ukraine crisis is more unpalpable with the involvement of China and the US. While India has quite friendly relations with the US, which has often termed India as its essential strategic partner, China on the other side has different motives and has maintained warm relations with the arch-rival of India: Pakistan.
Much before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China has come closer to Russia which is detrimental for India military alliance with Russia. China’s strengthening its relations with Russia directly indicates Moscow’s slant towards Pakistan as well. More so, the changes in the geopolitical landscape can be gauged by the fact that it is happening for the first time in 20 years that Pakistan’s Prime Minister has been invited by Moscow for a formal visit.
While the Russia-Ukraine conflict appears to be happening at some distant land, it can on the contrary change the entire dynamics of the region with Russia, China and Pakistan coming closer, the same cannot be in favour of India at any cost. With India preferring to sit on the fence regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and not shifting its stance, the time ahead will determine whether India acts as a balancing power in the region, or will it make its slant towards the US or the emerging block visible to the world.
