India on February 25, 2022, abstained on a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, which condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It was supported by the US and Albania, and co-sponsored by about 80 countries. The resolution called for an immediate cessation of violence and withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. Ahead of the vote, the US said, any UNSC member who votes ‘no’ or ‘abstain’ would face the charge of aligning with the aggressive and unprovoked actions of Russia and not upholding the UN Charter.
However, the resolution could not be passed as Russia vetoed the resolution. The resolution received 11 votes in favour, whereas three members—India, China, and the UAE—abstained. India used strong words on Russia’s actions but did not vote against it.
India called for respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and immediate cessation of violence and hostilities. Thus, by abstaining, India retained the option of reaching out to relevant sides to bridge the gap and find the middle way-out to foster dialogue and diplomacy. Earlier in January 2022 also, India had abstained from a vote on whether to hold a discussion on the Ukraine situation, and indicated support for Russia’s legitimate security interests.
Why India Abstained
India has historically refrained from calling out Russia. India has strategic and defence partnership and friendship with both the US and Russia. Russia is India’s biggest and time-tested supplier of defence weapons. Despite Russia’s growing friendship with China, Russia boosted India’s defence capabilities with the S-400 air defence system, and has stood behind India at the UNSC on all issues.
However, at the same time, India has a deep partnership with the US, which includes defence pacts, trade and investment, technology, and last but not the least, a huge connection through the Indian diaspora and people-to-people contacts. Thousands of students leave India every year to study in American universities.
India has good relations with Europe as well. Additionally, France, as one of the P-5 (Permanent Five), is a vital friend of India in the UNSC. India needs all these friends as India deals with China’s moves at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Vijay Nambiar, India’s permanent representative to the UN in New York (2002–2004) and a deputy national security advisor of India, is of the views that India abstained from voting at the UN against Russia over Ukraine in view of our relationship with Russia, and the support Russia has traditionally provided to us from the time of the Soviet Union. Russia has been the only P5 country that has helped India on some of its most important concerns. Russia has been India’s steady supporter in matters related to national security concerns, particularly with regard to Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, it is important for India to be similarly sensitive to Russia’s national security concerns. (The P5 countries are the five permanent members of the UNSC—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US.)
India Abstains on Resolution by Russia
India also abstained from a resolution tabled by Russia in the UNSC on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine on March 25, 2022 to show that Delhi does not agree with the Russian stand on Ukraine. Russia had called for a vote on its draft resolution that civilians, including humanitarian personnel and persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children, are fully protected. Russia also called for negotiated ceasefire for enabling safe, rapid, voluntary, and unhindered evacuation of civilians; and underscored the need for the parties concerned to agree on humanitarian pauses to this end.
India joined the US, UK, France, and the non-permanent members in abstaining during voting on the resolution. China was the only country that backed Russia and voted in favour of the draft resolution. Therefore, the draft resolution fell, as it could not get the minimum nine votes needed in the 15-member UNSC.
This was first time that India abstained on a Russia-sponsored resolution. Previously, India abstained from resolutions sponsored by the US-led West that were critical of Moscow’s actions. This move shows Delhi’s attempt to portray its neutrality as it continues to engage and maintain its diplomatic tightrope walk on the issue.
On the same day, Delhi again abstained on a resolution moved by the French and the Mexicans in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The move got 140 votes in favour, 38 abstentions, and five against, and was ‘strong’ in its condemnatory language against Russia.
Changing World Scenario and Implications for India
Ashley J. Tellis, the Tata chair for strategic studies at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is among the foremost experts on Asia in the US. As a policymaker and an analyst, he has played a critical role in deepening Delhi–Washington ties in recent decades. He has expressed his concerns on the speedily changing world scenario with regard to geopolitics.
Some of his concerns are as follows:
First, Russian–Chinese ties are much deeper today than anyone thought possible a few years ago. So, an axis of authoritarianism that ties two very powerful States, who will owe each other a lot because of the circumstances under which the relation between the two prospered, portends big challenges.
Second, we have had, for the first time, a major power attempting to change what is a settled border through the massive use of force. It is not just grey-zone tactics, aimed at nibbling marginal territories, but the naked use of force without any pressing provocation with an eye on large-scale annexation and regime change.
Third, these developments will make the strategic challenges facing the US more complicated, because Washington will now have to divide its attention between both protecting European security as well as managing the challenges, posed by China in the Indo-Pacific. Though the US can do both, it would need more sacrifices on the part of the US. The saving grace here is the rise of Europe, as a new united security actor for the protection of its continent seriously. Europe would be a huge asset for the US, and a big force for stability in the global order.
Now, the question is—Will Russia’s action encourage Chinese ambitions, or will the strong retaliation to the Russian action deter Beijing? The answer is that if Russia gets bogged down in Ukraine, with the costs of sanctions increasing steadily to weaken Russia as a State, that would hopefully have a sobering effect on Chinese calculations.
However, if Putin and his regime survive the war in Ukraine, India’s abstention could pay off. But if Russia falters as a result of this aggression, Delhi’s situation will become quite parlous and its abstention may come back to haunt it.
India has done well to offer humanitarian aid to Ukraine. India should also do more because Ukraine is truly a victim now. Ukraine is also important to India as a source of military equipment. It is not only the Russian connection that needs to be protected. So, India needs to reach out to its European partners who have been disheartened by India’s votes in the UNSC.
Russia’s Suspension from UNHRC
On April 7, 2022, a resolution, namely, ‘Suspension of the Rights of Membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council’, was proposed by a group of countries including Ukraine, the US, the EU, and several Latin American countries. The resolution required a two-thirds majority of those present and voting for adoption. Abstentions do not count in the tally of those ‘present and voting’. This resolution accused Moscow of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights”.
The resolution was opposed on the grounds that it had been put to vote before an independent inquiry had presented its findings. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and various UN member-countries had called for an independent inquiry into the brutal killing of civilians in the Bucha suburb of Kyiv. India also abstained for reasons of “substance and process”.
Russia’s membership to the Human Rights Council (HRC), to which it was elected in 2020, was suspended after the UNGA voted, 93 to 24 (93 nations voting in favour and 24 against), with 58 abstentions, including India. Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Vietnam, were among the countries who voted against.
About UNHRC
The UNHRC is an inter-governmental body, which is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. It also addresses and makes recommendations on situations of human rights violations, and can discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations.
The UNHRC was created by the UNGA on March 15, 2006. The council, which meets at the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland, is made up of 47 UN member-States who are elected by majority vote through a direct and secret ballot at the UNGA. The membership of the council is based on equitable geographical distribution. African and Asia-Pacific states have 13 seats each, Latin American and Caribbean states have 8 seats, Western European and other states 7 seats, and Eastern European states 6 seats. The members serve for three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
The council holds no fewer than three regular sessions a year, for a total of at least 10 weeks. These sessions take place in March (4 weeks), June (3 weeks), and September (3 weeks).
Conclusion
India’s decision to continue to abstain from voting against Russia and refusal to criticise Russia is a disappointment to Western countries, who had lobbied hard to shift India’s position. India wants a peaceful resolution of the crisis. If India has chosen any side, it is the side of peace, and an immediate end to violence. New Delhi has strictly condemned the murder of civilians in the Bucha suburb of Kyiv. However, India did not blame Russia for these murders. India also called for an early resolution of the conflict as the impact of the conflict is being felt beyond the region in the form of rising food and energy prices, etc.
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