Role of India, China and Russia in Central Asia
| Published date | 04 January 2022 |
| Publication title | Statesman, The (India) |
The foreign ministers of these nations attended the India-hosted dialogue, while sending their deputies to the simultaneous Pakistan conducted OIC conference on Afghanistan, conveying the importance they attach to relations with India. China making inroads into the region with its Belt Road Initiative is viewed with disapproval by Russia.
Despite the supposed bonhomie between China and Russia, relations between the two are a matter of convenience rather than based on mutual benefit. Differences in economy and capabilities places Russia as a minor partner to China, something President Vladimir Putin would be unwilling to accept.
With Europe and the US imposing sanctions on Russia for its takeover of Crimea as also increased tensions over Ukraine and US-China deteriorating ties, it is natural for the two nations to display solidarity with each other. Both would seek to ensure the other does not interfere in case one of them acts unilaterally in its area of interest, Beijing on Taiwan and Russia on Ukraine.
Display of proximity and signals of support divides US attention. Putin's decision to attend the Beijing Winter Games opening ceremony, on an invite from President Xi Jinping, was more a display of defiance to the West than support for Chinese internal and external policies.
With India, Russia's relationship has been time tested and beneficial, though trade has been low. Despite India's proximity to the US, it displayed an independent and pro-Russia streak by signing multiple defence deals despite threat of sanctions. India has never criticized Russian actions. On its part, Russia has backed Indian concerns and sought to diffuse the current Indo-China crisis. Russia is sympathetic to Indian interests in its dealings with Pakistan, including sale of weapons.
Russia inducted India into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a counterweight to China, an act India is well aware of. The schedule of the Indo-Russia summit (6 December), the Indo-Central Asian dialogue (18-19 December) and the PM Modi-Putin telephone conversation of 19 December were not a coincidence. Russia would any day prefer Indian involvement in Central Asia as compared to Chinese...
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