(From the print edition of The Indo-Canadian VOICE of February 26)
THE Russian invasion of Ukraine that is causing death and destruction and sending shock waves across the world is quite apparently going to lead to a new world order.
Just precisely how the new political, military and economic alignments will take shape, we will have to wait and see.
Also, what role China will play in all of this will be very interesting to watch; perhaps even frightening. Will China be emboldened to exhibit an increasingly belligerent stance towards Taiwan and those nations that dare to question its territorial claims in the South China Sea?
China, in fact, must be gleefully watching the clash between Russia and the West.
And what about India? Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in a very delicate situation because China claims territory along its border with India. You can be sure that it’s closely watching how India reacts to the situation unfolding in Ukraine.
A report from New Delhi on Thursday by Indian news agency IANS said: “Reiterating [to Russian President Vladimir Putin] his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue, the Prime Minister [Modi] appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.”
But everyone knows that Putin’s approach to Ukraine has been ‘my way or the highway.’
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday “to discuss Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine” and “stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia’s invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire.”
So, India will have to take a firm stand one way or the other.
Putin is one highly frustrated leader who feels Russia has just not been getting the respect and attention that he thinks his country is entitled to, even as China seems to be increasingly overshadowing Russia.
