Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar once again exposed the hypocrisy of the West when it comes to defending the rules-based order in the rest of the world.

Answering questions at the ongoing Raisina Dialogues conference in Delhi, Dr. Jaishankar pointed out how Europe simply advised India to just do more trade when the same rules-based order was under threat in Asia. Now when it is in Europe’s interests, they have started talking about this rules-based order.

Ever since Russia started its “special military operation” inside Ukraine, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has been facing questions on the Indian stand on the conflict on every occasion. Despite making the Indian stand in favor of peace in the region clear on every such occasion, the questions on the conflict continue to follow the Indian EAM. The ongoing Raisina Dialogues conference in Delhi was no different as the question of the Ukraine conflict was once again raised in front of the minister

Speaking at Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister (EMA) S Jaishankar reminded Europe of its response to the crisis in eastern Ladakh in 2020

Addressing questions from the audience on Ukraine, Dr. Jaishankar once again stated that India has a very clear position on the conflict in Ukraine which emphasizes an urgent cessation of fighting and a return to diplomacy and dialogue.

The Indian External Affairs Minister said, “When rules-based order was under challenge in Asia, the advice we got from Europe was- do more trade. At least we are not giving you that advice. We should find a way of returning to diplomacy and dialogue.”

Raising the question of Afghanistan as well, Dr. Jaishankar asked which part of rules-based order justifies the world’s actions in Afghanistan. He pointed out how the entire civil society in Afghanistan was thrown under the bus by the world last year.

What Jaishankar said

The minister said that only Russia could explain its justification for the invasion of Ukraine. But he did not stop there.

• “There is really nobody who wants to see this conflict. There will be no winners out of this conflict,” he stressed, speaking about the Russia-Ukraine war. Acknowledging the concerns of his European colleagues, he stated that he understood that the Ukraine conflict will occupy Europeans to the exclusion of almost everything else. “But there is also a world out there,” he pointed out, mentioning Afghanistan.

With respect to Afghanistan, Jaishankar asked, “Please show me which part of the rules-based order justified what the world did there”

• With respect to Afghanistan, Jaishankar asked, “Please show me which part of the rules-based order justified what the world did there”? Imploring the questioner to look at things in “the right context”, Jaishankar clarified that “our position is that we all have to find some way of returning to diplomacy and dialogue.”

Why this matters

In all likelihood, Jaishankar was referring to Europe's stand on China's aggression against India in Eastern Ladakh. When India was locked in a tense military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, including at the time of the clashes in the Galwan Valley, the European Union was negotiating an investment deal with China. Almost all major European countries except France failed to condemn Chinese aggression.

Not the first time: This clarity over India’s stance and ability to pursue its interests has come to the fore at various instances in External Affairs Minister’s recent interactions.

• During the 2+2 dialogue with the US, Jaishankar tackled a loaded question on India’s oil purchases from Russia amidst the Ukraine crisis. “I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe. We do buy some energy, which is necessary for our energy security. But I suspect looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon,” was his rejoinder.

• Over US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s comment that Washington was monitoring the “rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials” in India, Jaishankar had said, “we also take our views on other people's human rights situation, including that of the United States. Emphasising that India will not be reticent about speaking out its views on other countries whenever there is a discussion, he said, “we are also equally entitled to have views about their views and about the interests, and the lobbies and the vote banks which drive that.”

Jaishankar was referring to Europe's stand on China's aggression against India in Eastern Ladakh

But why has this come up now? India has been under pressure from the US and Europe to take a strong position against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and cut trade and defence ties with Moscow. India has called for the cessation of fighting in Ukraine and respect for territorial integrity, but Europe's sanctimonious tone towards New Delhi hasn't changed.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was in India earlier this week, followed the same script, warning India of the close ties and 'no limit' friendship between Russia and China.

• Last month, US Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh said that if China breaches the Line of Actual Control again, Russia will not come to India's help.

References:

opindia.com