'Mistake' for Modi to plan Ukraine visit now, it 'looks like India buckling under Western pressure'

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Published 2024-07-31
Modi's Ukraine visit would be "a mistake . should be ruled out"; "can't see what traction from a visit at the moment"; "looks as if we are buckling under pressure": former Foreign Secretary Krishnan Srinivasan to Karan Thapar

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In strong and unequivocal criticism of the possibility Prime Minister Modi might visit Ukraine in August, one of India’s former Foreign Secretaries has said it would be “a mistake” and “should be ruled out”. Krishnan Srinivasan says “I can’t see what traction from a visit to Ukraine at the moment”. He said it “looks as if we are buckling under pressure”. He added: “I would be disappointed if the PM goes to Ukraine … I can’t see a positive outcome.”



In a 24-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Krishnan Srinivasan, who is also a former Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth, strongly defended India’s multi-lateral foreign policy and its assertion of strategic autonomy. He argued that a visit to the Ukraine would undermine this rather than re-assert it, as the Indian government spokesman has claimed. It would look as if Mr. Modi is responding under pressure from Washington. Mr. Srinivasan said no country should be permitted to dictate India’s foreign policy.



Mr. Srinivasan argued that if the Prime Minister has a message to send to Ukraine he should do so at a lower level rather than himself convey it.



I am only giving you the big main points made by Mr. Srinivasan. This is not a precis or paraphrase of the interview. Mr. Srinivasan has said a lot more and I will leave you to see the interview and hear it for yourself.

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All Comments (21)
  • @rajeev7898
    It will be a meaningless visit except that it will satisfy a compulsive urge to visit overseas.
  • @anil16949
    Modi is trying to run with the hare & hunt with the hounds....he is in sixes & sevens..!
  • @shyam_george
    But what is missing from the above discussion is that 99.9% of our national wealth is stashed in "Western" banks. And then there is an upsurge of "High Network Individuals" in the last 10 years.
  • Modi going overseas not on a diplomatic or peace mission, he is going to escape the aggressive opposition raising hell in parliament…
  • @Mickey-wp2rg
    India is buckling under US pressure. Also notice the Kargil stories coming back. Why? Well-timed by Israel to remind India and to get India to support Israel when they attack the middle east.
  • Modi je showing lal aakh to both Russia and USA simultaneously so he will be withouth aakh, hapazard directionalless
  • @dkumar7810
    If I have understood Modi correctly he expects to achieve some spectacular success on the international front to shore up his faltering domestic standing . " Papa, Modiji me war rukwa diya . "
  • @kalidasa_in
    If it looks like India is buckling under Western pressure, this itself is a pressure and Mr Modi would have decided to not succumb under this pressure.
  • @sm9214
    I really envy Karan Thapar ji. Who else then can be so lucky to be paid heavily for being a sinecure? All that he has to do is to simply sitting, listening to all sorts of nonsenses.
  • @vader94
    Pappa stopping the war single handedly
  • Karan Thapar sir, I think it is time to go back in history and have a reprise of the founding of the non aligned movement and the Bandung conference. Concepts like multipolarity have their genesis in NAM. India's current foreign policy appears to have been re-connected with that history.
  • Excellent & knowledgable interview, Mr Thapar has proved his professional excellence, wish him continued success.
  • वार रुकवादी पापा , देखो पापा देखो
  • This visit may not succeed. But, if you understood strategic partnership, multipolar world, you could not mention your disappointment on Modi's visit to ukrain.
  • @harbinger6562
    It be great for 🇮🇳 to be able to work with 🇨🇳 because Peace is in Interest of Both ❤️🇨🇳🇮🇳🇷🇺🇺🇦🇵🇸🦾😇👋
  • @JaiSahu-cf4mw
    Modi has just become western puppet, though ineffective one..😂