Opinion | Multilateralism Or Confusion? India And The New World Order

India and the European Union have signed an FTA and a long-term security agreement. This is meant to augment trade between the two sides, enhance cooperation in technology, security, people to people engagement and leverage synergistic strengths and step out of the new paradigm imposed by President Donald Trump.

India now has strong relationships or agreements, implemented or in the making, with Russia, Great Britain, Japan, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Oman and several others. India recently refused to vote against Iran in the UN and hopes to supply ammunition to the world including the EU.

Conceptually, this could create great confusion. For example, if China went into war over Taiwan with Japan and Russia and the US joined to support their respective friends and allies, would India support Russia or Japan? Would she go against the Quad or Russia? Would she block the Malacca Straits to help the Quad but reverse its commitment to allow Russia the use of her naval bases in the Indian Ocean?

Or if the Ukraine war escalated and EU went full tilt against Russia, would India supply arms to the EU while buying oil from Russia? Or if China and the Quad went into a war with each other and Russia and Iran joined to support China, would India take on Iran while attempting to build the Chabahar sea port? Or if Israel were sanctioned by EU, what would India do? Support both its defense partners or be opportunistic?

Seems like multilateralism needs tremendous awareness, clarity and communication. India cannot be non-aligned or neutral or even take sides in a conflict that consumes its partners or allies. India needs to help formulate a new world order.

She should offer to bring its allies together with conviction and transparency. For example, she should proactively attempt to bring the Ukraine war to an end and cash her chips with both her allies.

She must articulate her worldview consistently and coherently. For example, it must insist that any expansion at the borders of Russia must cease immediately. This is not the era of war for sure. Nor is it the era of pushing an agenda that threatens Russia. Nor can India supply ammunition to EU against Russia while it is selling Russian oil to EU.

International institutions such as the UN can no longer enforce their will on rogue nations unless these nations are weak. India needs to create new global institutions that create international consensus on how to solve problems.

It will be a world order no longer led by the US, nor should China be allowed to usurp global institutions. Close relationships with nations that are at war with each other can be disastrous to one’s credibility unless one is open, honest and sometimes even willing to push them to come to harmony.

Foreign relations need to be deft and pragmatic but also sincere and trustworthy. Such a multilateralism can enhance India’s prestige and influence but there is a risk of losing credibility if India is only transactional or opportunistic. Yet, there is opportunity and scope to create a more honest and truly benevolent world order. Humanity needs it.

For this, India needs to keep growing stronger. She needs to create alternatives to monopolistic systems such as the SWIFT. She must be forceful when nations attempt to break the rules. Or when they abuse their power to interfere in the sovereignty of other nations. For example, the toppling of foreign governments or interference in elections must end. India must state this unequivocally.

Any exploitation of nations by governments like China by weaponising loans must cease. Nor can the west be allowed its hypocritical stance in the name of freedom of expression. Movements such as Khalistan Independence cannot be allowed to grow in countries like the UK or Canada by their governments.

While building these relationships and new trade agreements, India needs to offer a third way that is neither Chinese nor American. Neither overt aggression nor exploitation. The world doesn’t need to be split in camps and a new option to chart one’s course without threats or coercion needs to be offered to every nation.

This will take time to develop. India will have heft if it is strong, healthy, united and able to articulate its vision without fear or favour.

A new world order is possible that seeks to influence the future with vision, benevolence and integrity. India can leverage its multilateral partnerships across the board to build it. But this will require India to adhere to her ancient path of bhadram for all, and respect for each member of the human family so that each may fulfil its highest potential, the true vasudhaiv kutumbkam (the entire earth is my family) and loka sangraha. That is, bringing all humanity together in a common purpose and aspiration with harmony and good will.

Pariksith Singh is author, poet, philosopher and medical practitioner based in Florida. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.