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As a person born in 90s, it is difficult to comprehend how the days were during the cold war and how it affected us. But the events unfolding now in Trans-Atlantic & especially in Eastern European theater helps me get an idea. At first, the conflict seems to be a one-side initiated affair by a leader in a fit of rage. But peeling the layers off, looking at the context, tracing the history and finding parallel predicaments elsewhere helps make a more balanced opinion on the issue. Its certain that MEA will make clinical observations from the crisis on various aspects & help build an even resilient foreign policy going ahead.
But what do we see the West’s reaction towards the crisis. Russian Institutions & top political/military echelons are sanctioned which are not short of an act of war on a Sovereign. Also, surprising is the fact the liberal West, always preaching to de-hyphenate sports & politics & criticizing Iranians attitude towards Israel at Olympics suddenly turns a blind eye & even being hand-in-glove to the arrogant stance of IOC, FIA etc towards the athletes/sportsmen of Russia. Censoring Russian media outlets is also another example of censorship by the liberal preachers of West. The most hard-hitting & most ruthless is the sanction on the “shah-rag” of Russian State, its Oil-Gas Industry. Not to forget the SWIFT sanctions on the Russian banks dealing in international transactions. (albeit keeping out the banks responsible for transactions for Nordstream Gas supply from the purview). All this just because Russia decided to act in its national interest of not allowing American troops, nukes/bases right at its border through the conduit of Ukraine. Now many would say, an overreaction by Russia in the first place,right?Ok, so what about the Cuban Missile crisis & Monroe Doctrine?. Though, down in South Asia, the biggest hegemon India seems to have a larger bandwidth of patience even after having its adversary’s troops camped inside its territory, arming its other adversary to the tooth & parking its subs near its coast. But over the decades, maybe the inward looking & “long” Hindu philosophy might have caused these developments to go “unpunished” on the neighbors.
What are the lessons for India? There are many from both sides. From Ukraine, India can learn to not count on others to fight for it. The BMD umbrella needs to be made even more robust to prevent the airspace being saturated with missile attacks, impairing the armed forces. The common folks need to do their part & support the troops during such times in their best capacities. The technocrats need to prepared to unleash an info-psy war. From Russia, well, first have a robust logistics ecosystem to support the frontline troops. The troops must be aware of the reason of the decision & should not be in a state of dilemma or guilt.The tri-service integration is the need of the hour. Keep updating the doctrine to the latest trends & not be fighting with sticks against guns(read drone warfare).
Its wise to sometimes listen to friendly world leaders who wish to offer their wise counsel to address your issues. To act in total disregard of them or their advice is to prepare the grounds to not count on them when the winds blow against you. Even the best of your friends can choose to not vote in your favour & maybe criticise you indirectly in forums. Its also important to not put all eggs in one basket vis a vis the supplies, transit etc on other Nation States that can impact your scheme of things(read Bosphorus). Its wise to keep in mind the interests & impact of the decision on the common people, expatriates, business & industry. Reduce dependence on global systems & create desi alternatives & promote them to reduce the shock on the people(read Google, Apple,Visa, Mastercard).Also, It’s important to not give undue value to trivial institutions as the UN & its statements as it has lost its relevance due to its archaic structure with aversion to update with time. Never to try emulate the values, preachings of the west on free speech, liberalism, equality, racism etc for when it suits them, they dont put their money where their mouth is. Also, even the presumed “neutral” nordic states can shed their neutrality & take a biased stand, suggesting never to entrust them with the responsibility of mediation in the sub continent if at all the need arises.
Overall, going forward, India needs to make changes where its needed & chalk out its policies keeping in mind the historic bias of the West(taking cues from its past), make an Asian Bloc with robust & resilient inter-dependencies to help India sail through comfortably in its journey towards the centennial anniversary of its freedom.
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