Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia and Austria was nothing short of a remarkable exercise in statecraft. India, which has a long history of strategic culture, is known to be a balancing power. It not only aims to address the concerns of all sides but, following its socio-cultural traditions, believes in adopting the ‘madhyam-marg’ or middle path preached by Gautama Buddha in his immortal sermons.
This two-nation visit of Prime Minister Modi in his historic third term in power aimed at reinforcing old connections with Russia and building a new relationship with Austria, Modi was the first Indian premier to visit Austria in 41 years.
Diplomacy is all about finding consensus, it aims to hammer out the most intractable problems via negotiation and dialogue. India has a long history of argumentation and deliberation and has seen its diplomatic engagements growing by leaps and bounds over the years, as India’s economic and military profile has grown, so has its diplomatic footprints and interests.
Resisting extreme pressure to brand Russia as a pariah state, India demonstrated its ability to exercise strategic autonomy in its foreign policy, making it clear that it will not be cowered into making decisions detrimental to its long-term interests
Reinforcing the Russian connection
The two-day visit to Russia was one of the most consequential moments in modern India’s diplomatic history as it came at a difficult time in India-Russia ties. Russia has been at the receiving end of Western sanctions thanks to its invasion of Ukraine in April 2022. India in an astounding display of risky statesmanship decided not to toe the Western line in condemning Russia, but expressed concern over the war, highlighting how there was a need for a ceasefire and return to the diplomatic table to ensure a peaceful resolution to this knotty matter.
India displayed its independence in foreign policy by insisting on an impartial probe into the Bucha massacre in the early phases of the war.
However, in a display of Kautilyan realism India decided to purchase discounted Russian oil to secure its energy interests. As a result, Russia rocketed to the top of India’s crude oil import partners and currently enjoys being the biggest supplier of crude oil to India in the fiscal year 2023-24. The discounted nature of the crude oil helped the Indian public and private refiners make substantial savings.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Austria and his statement that ‘War is never a solution’ while condoling the death of the victims of a Russian missile attack was aimed at sending an assuaging signal to the West that it has not completely scrapped it
The visit also saw progress being made on the joint production of formidable military assets such as Su-30 MKI, Mig 29, and Kamov 229 choppers, Russia also decided to discharge Indian citizens fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine upon PM Modi’s request.
Resisting extreme pressure to brand Russia as a pariah state, India demonstrated its ability to exercise strategic autonomy in its foreign policy, making it clear that it will not be cowered into making decisions detrimental to its long-term interests. It further displayed how India honours the commitments to old allies, unlike many Western countries, especially the USA, that believe in a transactional relationship with the Oriental world countries. The ubiquitous support in Indian elitist and ordinary circles for the Russia-India ties speaks volumes about how India and Indians rally behind the old allies.
Sending a mixed message
On the other hand, PM Modi’s visit to Austria and his statement that “War is never a solution” while condoling the death of the victims of a Russian missile attack was aimed at sending an assuaging signal to the West that it has not completely jettisoned it. India knows that the West needs it to counter, and possibly, contain China, not only in the Indo-Pacific but in the global political order, whereas India requires the West for its science, technology and expertise for its developmental aspirations. Hence, more than a ‘match made in heaven’, the Indo-Western partnership is a marriage of convenience based on shared values and interests, not only in the strategic realm but also in the cultural sphere.
The West must realise that the days of gunboat diplomacy are over and India seeks deeper partnerships in almost every sphere possible. India will not compromise with the time-tested ties that have helped it and have come to its aid in times of adversity
Indian diplomacy has managed to maintain a tightrope approach to its ties with the West on the one hand and the Russia-Iran relationship on the other hand.
The West must realise that the days of gunboat diplomacy are over and India seeks deeper partnerships in almost every sphere possible. India will not compromise with the time-tested ties that have helped it and have come to its aid in times of adversity. It is time the West recognise it and accommodate India’s concerns and interests while not threatening it with ‘adverse consequences’.
–The writer is currently working as a Research Associate at Defence Research and Studies (dras.in) and is a columnist. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
