US President Joe Biden has said that among the Quad countries, India is becoming “somewhat unstable” in terms of showing support against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both Australia and Japan, which form the quad with India and the US, have criticized Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
It comes a month after four leaders – Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida – met virtually for the Quad leaders’ summit. Russia was not criticized in their joint statement then.
Biden’s statement also came after US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The foreign ministry said on Monday that the two secretaries discussed the “situation in Ukraine”.
Addressing a business roundtable of CEOs in Washington, Biden said: “One thing I believe, knowing Putin well – as well as, I think, another leader might know each other – is that That he was counting on being able to split NATO. He never thought that NATO would have a solution – be completely, completely united. And I can assure you, NATO is the way it is today in its entire history. has never been stronger or more united in comparison, in large part, because of Vladimir Putin.”
“But in response to her aggression, there has been – she is beautiful – we presented a united front across NATO and the Pacific. The Quad, with the possible exception of India being somewhat destabilizing on some of this. But Japan has been extremely strong in dealing with Putin’s aggression, so has Australia.
Last month, Biden said that India and the US were trying to resolve their differences on the issue.
In a virtual summit with Modi on Monday, Morrison slammed “Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine” and said Moscow should be held responsible for the loss of lives.
While Modi, in his public remarks, did not say anything on the situation in Ukraine, Shringla later said that Morrison expressed his understanding of the situation in India, and that it was his and Modi’s view that there was a need to divert attention from the conflict. There cannot be a reason. Issues of the Indo-Pacific region.
US President Biden on New Delhi backing action (sanctions) on Russia, says India has been “somewhat unstable” pic.twitter.com/ehzqgBlx4e
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) 22 March 2022
On Saturday, Kishida described Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a “serious development” that “shaken the foundations of the international order”. Modi, who interacted with Kishida at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, did not directly mention Ukraine and referred to “geopolitical developments”.
Biden’s public comments are the first indication of Washington’s assessment of New Delhi’s approach.
“We presented a united front across NATO and the Pacific, and you did a lot to help us bear the costs, the real costs, and sanctions on the Russian economy. Now we see it mattered. What you all did was really important. Not every one of you, but I’m not suggesting that all of you had to. But for those of you who stepped in, it made a big difference,” he said. Told the CEO.
Earlier this month, the US State Department recalled a cable to US diplomats instructing them to notify counterparts in India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that their position of neutrality on Ukraine had led them to “remain close to Russia”. Camp”, Axios, a U.S. news outlet, had reported.
On Tuesday, Modi spoke to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose office at 10, Downing Street, said leaders discussed the “serious situation in Ukraine” and Johnson said “he believes Putin’s The actions of the regime were very disturbing and disastrous for the world”.
“The couple agreed that Ukraine’s integrity and territorial sovereignty should be respected,” said the statement released by Downing Street 10. The leaders said Russia needed to abide by the UN Charter, and both agreed that “respecting international law is the only way to ensure global peace and prosperity,” it said.
The Indian PMO, in a readout of the call, said that the two leaders had “detailed discussions” on the situation in Ukraine. “Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s persistent appeal to end hostilities and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. He emphasized India’s belief in international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states as the basis of the contemporary world order.
The difference in tone and duration of both the statements reflects the public position of both the countries on the issue.
