India is in a unique position Raksha Anirveda 16 Sept 2026
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India is in a unique position Raksha Anirveda 16 Sept 2026
India has been insisting that ongoing conflicts of Ukraine and Iran must end. It has been reiterating that these can only conclude by dialogue, refusing to take sides. In Kiev, answering questions on why India continues to procure Russian oil, Jaishankar mentioned, ‘It (the war) will not be stopped by someone not buying oil. It will end with diplomacy.’ While India has refused to negotiate in any conflict, it maintains close ties with all sides.
PM Modi met the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, as also the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He met them again during the BRICS summit in Delhi, last weekend, conveying a message of India’s global outreach. In both meetings, apart from discussing trade and the current state of the conflict, he reiterated the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as a means of conflict resolution.
Immediately after PM Modi’s meeting with Putin in Bishkek, Jaishankar visited Moscow and Kiev. Post his visit to Kiev he mentioned, ‘In consonance with Prime Minister Modi’s call for an end to war, my visit has a focus on the prospects of dialogue and diplomacy. I will be taking back views and positions shared today by the Ukrainian side.’
It was soon after this visit that US negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Krushner, visited Moscow and Kiev, seeking a solution for ending the conflict. Not much emerged from the visit by the US team, though Presidents Trump and Putin held a one-hour conversation. Putin would have discussed the same with PM Modi during their meeting. Despite US threat of sanctions, India continues procuring oil from Russia. Its oil imports touched 2.6 million barrels a day in Aug, up from 1 million in Feb.
The Russian ambassador to Delhi, Denis Alipov, mentioned that India procures oil for itself, not to help Russia. The Indian military also remains dependent on Russian military hardware. Talks between the two leaders in Delhi included discussions on SU-57 fighter jets and nuclear power plants apart from other subjects. India has already placed a demand for five additional S 400 Triumf air defence systems, to which Russia has submitted a proposal. This, despite threats of CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).
India has also invested heavily in Iran’s Chabahar port, work on which is currently stalled due to the ongoing conflict. It would also begin to procure oil from Iran once the conflict ends. In his meeting with the Iranian President PM Modi discussed expanding and diversifying economic cooperation, continuing progress on the Chabahar port, and managing maritime and transportation ties despite pressures of sanctions.
India has refused to take sides in either conflict notwithstanding pressures from Europe and the US. It has been seeking to maintain relations with multiple camps, many of which remain at loggerheads. India is enhancing its economic and defence ties with Europe, while continuing to maintain relations as also procure oil and weapons from Russia. It concurrently engages Ukraine.
It also welcomes the Iranian President to India, while procuring weapon systems from the US as also is close to inking a trade deal with it. New Delhi is also interested in expanding its Chabahar port to enhance trade with Central Asian nations, bypassing Pakistan. India remains chary of the current US leadership but is aware that Trump is not going to be in the chair beyond Jan 2029. It can bide its time aware that its economy and global standing will continue to push closer US-India relations beyond that phase.
India also has close ties with Israel, an arch-enemy of Iran. India-Israel relations span economics and defence. In 2025, India backed down from endorsing the SCO joint statement which accused Israel of ‘aggressive actions against civilian targets, including energy and transport infrastructure, which have resulted in civilian casualties, are a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.’
It did sign the statement at the end of the current SCO summit as it did not name the US or Israel. Even the statement at the end of the BRICS summit did not mention Israel or the US. India cannot let its relations with one impact the other.
The BRICS summit hosted by India over the weekend had one member of both conflicts present, Russia and Iran. Its interaction with both, while continuing engagements with their adversaries was an indicator of New Delhi’s ability to insist on dialogue as the only solution. While India remains an active member of SCO and BRICS, both of which have China and Russia, it is also involved with the QUAD, which is assumed to be anti-China, and is a regular invitee to the G7, which is currently anti-Russia. It procures weapons from Europe, US and Russia as also oil from Russia and the US. It adheres to sanctions which impact it, while keeping diplomatic doors open.
India is well suited to negotiate between warring sides in both conflicts but has avoided doing so as it believes that it would only be involved if requested by both sides. Without a desire by both sides to end the conflict, negotiations would be in the phase they currently are, on and off, with no end in sight. New Delhi has its own interests to ensure, its diaspora, oil imports and security of its shipping.
While some term it as ‘strategic autonomy’ the reality is that India’s interests lie with multiple sides. India is a growing economy, hungry for resources, investments and technology. It also has its security concerns. Taking sides would be detrimental to its development. It has therefore resisted global pressure on backing one party to the conflict. This was initially questioned by nations concerned but its position now appears to not only have been accepted but also respected.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army