INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
New Delhi: The West, led by the United States, is trying to engage India in “anti-China games” through its Indo-Pacific strategies and
is also trying to undermine Russia’s close and privileged ties with India, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has said, in
unprecedented remarks that have highlighted both Moscow’s proximity with Beijing and a growing unease over the India-US strategic
partnership.Addressing the Russian International Affairs Council, Mr Lavrov said: “It (the West) is trying to restore the unipolar model
‘Poles’ like Russia and China are unlikely to be subordinate to it
However, India is currently an object of the Western countries’ persistent, aggressive and devious policy as they are trying to engage it
in anti-China games by promoting Indo-Pacific strategies, the so-called ‘Quad’, while at the same time the West is attempting to
undermine our close partnership and privileged relations with India
This is the goal of the US’ very tough pressure on New Delhi.” The Russian foreign minister added: “Rejecting the objective trends
towards the formation of a multipolar world, the US-led West has launched a ‘game’
It has postponed Russia and China for later and is trying to draw all others into a unipolar world by any means possible
For our part, we will promote a unifying agenda… Intellectually, the West justifies its policies by the notorious concept of a
These rules are invented on the go, at various get-togethers.”Observers point out that the remarks highlight Russia’s unease with
India’s growing proximity and strong strategic ties with the United States, with whom Russia has had a sharply deteriorating relationship
It also highlights India’s challenge in continuing to maintain excellent ties with both Russia and the US
India is also a member of the four-nation Quad, that also comprises Japan and Australia, apart from the US, a factor that Russia does not
seem too comfortable with
Russia’s adverse references to the phrase “rules-based order” that India uses regularly in its official statements are also being
viewed by observers as a concern for New Delhi, since use of the phrase by New Delhi is usually seen as a veiled reference to China. The
remarks also highlight the strong ties between Russia and China at a time when India continues to be locked in a military face-off with
China in the Ladakh sector, though the two Asian giants continue to be in talks to resolve the issue.
