Amid Russia-Ukraine conflict, can India lead a third block of neutral nations?

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<strong>At a time when the world order could once again be divided into two distinctive blocs– one driven by China and Russia and the other by the US and its allies, India, which has consistently maintained its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, should position itself as the main force driving an emerging third bloc in which non-partisan developing countries could be the key partners.</strong></p>
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Interestingly India along with China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan among several others in Asia as well as Africa have been on the same page. The BRICS bloc of emerging economies comprising India, China, Brazil, and South Africa besides Russia has also taken a similar stand towards the current Russia-Ukraine conflict.</p>
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“Amid this conflict, a new 21 st century clone of non-alignment of the Cold War era is gaining force. There are several nations which remain neutral and focused on their strategic autonomy. India is uniquely positioned to drive this block. India stands for peace, India stands for dialogue and most importantly India stands for India – this message has gone out to the global fraternity,” Anil Trigunayat, former ambassador and Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation told India Narrative.</p>
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He said that India should play a proactive role in creating a third block — Nations for Strategic Autonomy.</p>
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<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/russia-doing-its-best-to-evacuate-indian-citizens-from-sumy-putin-assures-pm-modi-155465.html"><strong>Russia doing its best to evacuate Indian citizens from Sumy, Putin assures PM Modi</strong></a></p>
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A similar stand by India, China, Bangladesh among others on the Russia-Ukraine conflict represents over half of the world population. India and China together account for about 36 per cent of the world population. </p>
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The Hill, a Washington based news organization said the US should harbour no illusions about India. “The giant of the Asian subcontinent will resist binding ties with anyone and, as it has since gaining its independence from British colonial rule 75 years ago, will continue to go its own way,” it said.</p>
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to discuss the situation on the ground. He is also scheduled to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, this is Modi’s second telephone conversation with Zelensky.</p>
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Meanwhile, China’s state owned news organization Global Times has hit back at the US as it put pressure on countries to support Washington’s stand on Russia.</p>
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“Washington, as the root cause of the Ukraine tension, is in no position to ask other countries to follow it closely to condemn or sanction Russia. It cannot ask the whole world to pay for the chaos it has created,” a report carried by the Chinese media organization said.</p>
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Not just that. Global Times appeared to have come out  in support of India, training its guns on Washington, instead of New Delhi.  “The US should give India room to decide its position on the matter, rather than try to interfere with its decision via public opinion and diplomacy,” it said.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/putin-ready-of-trilateral-talks-with-iaea-and-ukraine-to-prevent-nuclear-disasters-155425.html">Putin ready for trilateral talks with IAEA and Ukraine to prevent nuclear disasters</a></strong></p>
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Yet, any emergence of a third block will have to see  a rapprochement between India China–countries which have deep nodes in the Global South but, right now, instead of cooperation, are battling each other for rival influence. Analysts say that the key to a new geo-political and geo-economic global realignment, post-Ukraine  may have to depend on the easing of military tensions on the India-China border, and Beijing's return to the status quo ante as it existed before May 2020, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the border. </p>