US is trying to do that because of China’s aggressive approach

As India takes over the G20 Presidency for a year, its foreign policy arm is getting complimented from across the world and gaining a currency of its own. Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin praised India for pursuing an independent foreign policy despite external pressures.

This comes at a time when India has carefully negotiated the diplomatic tightrope in the face of one of the worst wars humanity has seen in recent times in Ukraine. India has been a traditional ally of Russia since the Soviet times and, therefore, depends on the Eurasian giant for its weapons and now the spares. Western allies except for France have chosen to keep India out of major arms deals, instead, focussed more on strengthening India’s rival Pakistan (which also happens to be the significant ally of NATO in Asia).

However, India has chosen a unique diplomatic trope while dealing with Russia or voting in the UN on matters related to Ukraine. First it has not stopped any import of Russian oil despite facing severe criticism from US and western nations. India has stood her ground on using every multilateral, plurilateral or bilateral forum to put the need of its citizens for access to affordable energy prices first, before ganging up with a group to teach the bad guy a lesson. This steadfast attitude has finally been accepted by almost all parties (impacted, victim or aggressor), that domestic considerations are far more important than choosing sides in a war.

It is also to India’s credit that it managed to state the facts in a language understood by global leaders and international press that, despite increasing import of Russian oil, (India is still not the largest consumer of energy products from Russia, but Europe is), it has spared Russia any criticism. Its criticism of Russian actions in Ukraine has grown sharper and shriller in the past 10 months of the war.

Meanwhile, the UAE and Pakistan politicians and ministers have also spoken about India’s pursuit of an independent foreign policy, putting the needs of its citizens first. The reason Pakistan ex-prime minister Imran Khan chose to praise India may not be the same as the UAE, but the admission makes it abundantly clear that the India way of diplomacy has found resonance.

This also comes at a time when the US has reluctantly acknowledged that days of unilateral action in world affairs are over and it would need a credible, preferably democratic bunch of like-minded partners to pursue its regional and global interests. In comes the US’ National security strategy which identifies the Indo Pacific as the central point of geo political influence. It identifies that the economic prosperity, and security architecture of the Indo Pacific have the potential of impacting the wellbeing of every American citizen.

The US is desperately trying to decouple China from the global economy due to the latter’s aggressive, non-transparent, no rules-based approach to reaching the top position of being a global superpower. In its pursuit, the US knows that there could be no better ally than the world’s fifth largest economy, India. This special recognition for India in Washington’s power corridors means creative solutions to include India in the western alliance of nations. India is closely engaged with the US, Japan and Australia on Indo Pacific strategic affairs through the QUAD. India and the US have also partnered for a new age technology and trade agreement through the Indo-Pacific Economic framework. Unlike the binding nature of earlier economic arrangements, IPEF offers members flexibility. All this points to a world where the peculiarities and nuances of a very India-focused and citizen-first diplomacy are gaining currency.

(The author is a foreign affairs commentator)