Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik
America has been mounting pressure on India regarding Ukraine and many speculated a few unsavory occasions to spring up during the visit of our Defense and Foreign Ministers to Washington. But both the Union ministers could successfully maneuver the US government in our favor. The joint statement made after their interactions is a telling proof in this respect. Though the statement loudly elaborated on the pathetic plight of Ukraine, nowhere in the joint communiqué Russia was mentioned.
Go through the statement carefully; you will feel that it was not any joint release but the sole statement of India. Instead of singing to the tune of America, India managed the mighty US to toe our line. In fact the US this time repeated the same words India has been saying about Ukraine in international forums. Both the nations neither condemned Russia nor demanded sanctions on Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged that all democratic countries of the world should condemn the attack on Ukraine. Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar mentioned about the Indian aid to the people of Ukraine and also highlighted the intensity of our traditional relations with Russia! Blinken also publicly acknowledged the depth of India-Russia relations.
India has been building closer ties with the American quadruple in the Pacific region. During this visit, the two Union ministers have also managed to strengthen the Indo-US cooperation in space activities. This time, India managed to sign a contract for repairing American ships and now we have also become a member of the US Maritime Command based in Bahrain.
During this visit, there came a question from the American side on human rights abuses in India. To this Jaishankar gave a befitting reply asking a counter question on human rights violations in that country.
With little hesitation our Foreign Minister cited the poverty and inequality that America’s Blacks and minorities are still suffering. Jaishankar was indirectly suggesting America that it was easy to advise others than practicing oneself.
As far as the issue of purchase of Russian S-400 missiles Jaishankar had a blunt answer. He said that this was another example for the Amarican politics of Sanctions. US can decide against which buyer they have to impose sanctions and it’s not our concern. Jaishankar has served as India’s ambassador to the US. He knows the nuances of their foreign policy. That is why he could present India’s views so effectively.
*Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on diplomatic and educationalmissions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen National and International awards for academic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of several Advisory Committees of Government of India.
