India Rules Out Troop Deployment in Ukraine, Gaza Outside UN Mandate

New Delhi: India has categorically ruled out the possibility of deploying its armed forces in Ukraine or Gaza outside a United Nations mandate, underlining its consistent policy of participating in overseas missions only under the UN flag.Responding to a question from Times Now, Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, said, "We only do it under the UN flag. We understand the legitimacy that comes with such deployments."Government officials also made clear that given the current composition of the UN Security Council (UNSC), it “seems highly unlikely” that any such deployment would be authorised in the immediate future. “Indian peacekeepers will be deployed in a UN-mandated mission, with clearance of the UNSC, under the relevant Chapters

of the UN Charter. Anything outside of that is not on the table,” said Vishwesh Negi, a senior MEA official deputed to the Defence Ministry.The clarification comes amid questions from Times Now about whether India, as a rising global power, would consider sending its personnel to Ukraine or Gaza. Officials, however, reiterated New Delhi’s consistent line that it does not deploy troops abroad unless under a UN-sanctioned operation.India is among the world’s largest contributors to UN peacekeeping, with over 2,90,000 personnel having served in more than 50 missions since 1948. Yet New Delhi has drawn a firm boundary against unilateral or coalition-based troop deployments, citing both constitutional principles and the need for international legitimacy.With the UNSC deeply divided on both Ukraine and Gaza, Indian participation outside the UN framework remains ruled out.