Page 14 - The Indian EYE 030422

Op-ED MARCH 04, 2022 | The Indian Eye 14

The RussiAn eFFeCT,

PuTin AnD inDiA

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

ever mind Moscow’s word-
play, Vladimir Putin has in-
Nvaded Ukraine. While ener-
gy-rich Russia won’t mind oil and gas
prices shooting up, in part because it
has customers other than the West,
for example, China, and Putin would
have factored in the impact of more
sanctions before the first missiles hit,
the world, and India, enters at best a
fraught position both diplomatical-
ly and economically. Diplomatically,
Putin has proved that noble words on
global rules and sanctions won’t stop
a major leader determined to attack.
What this means for actions taken
by other aggressive powers down the
line, China again being a prime exam-
ple, is a huge source of anxiety. Putin
also seems to be looking at a regime
change in Kyiv. If that happens, and if,
as is likely, the US supports Ukrainian
resistance groups, Europe will see a
conflict that can drag out for months,
or more – with all kinds of possible
consequences. There’s also no es-
caping the fact that Ukraine again
shows the limitations of the world’s
most powerful country, the US, respond and push a narrative con- of Taiwan. But it has made its posi- long-term ability to bear the human
whose reputation had already taken ducive to the attacking forces, even tion clear in the case of Russia and and financial cost of isolation. Yes,
a hit following its chaotic withdrawal legitimizing the aggression. Kinetic Ukraine. Moscow has built up central bank re-
from Afghanistan. In short, a bleak operations are thus suitably aided What holds back India is the serves and a war chest, but this is a
new phase of uncertainty has begun. by softening the battlefield. This is fear that it would lose Western country whose economy is stagnating,
-- Editorial, The Times of India what NATO accuses Russia of doing support, which it feels it needs in and one that’s already struggling to
over Ukraine. order to counter China. The US’s deal with a health crisis as Covid-19
he crisis in Ukraine has caught -- Brijesh Singh, The Indian Express Indo-Pacific strategy is against Chi- races through an under-vaccinated
the world’s attention. Visible
Tis the conventional conflict ut if India wants to be a big na, and Washington wants India to population.
To drive home the point, the
be the bulwark of the anti-China
between soldiers and words between power, it cannot afford to
leaders. But invisible is the informa- Bremain non-committal in alliance. However, there is no mil- West must now dramatically ramp
itary alliance as such, and External
up sanctions, reaching far beyond
tion war that led up to the conven- world affairs. The position of China Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is right individuals into Russia’s state banks
tional war. NATO calls it hybrid war- seems to reflect better the position in saying that the Quad is not an and more — even if few options now
fare, but actually, it is a combination of a country that is a recognized big Asian NATO. come without a cost for Europe and
of cyberattacks, information cam- player. China is an adversary from -- Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr, the rest of the world. Vladimir Putin
paigns and kinetic force. The sophis- the Western point of view, and it is a
ticated hybrid warfare and disinfor- friend of Russia. The Quint has already begun the war no one
but Kremlin hawks wanted. Now
mation campaigns are being played So, Chinese Foreign Minister hat is remarkable here is only the toughest measures can hold
by both Russia and the West. The aim Wang Yi in his telephonic conver- not just the ambition of
is to create a multiplicity of narratives, sation with US Secretary of State Wwhat Putin is apparently him back.
-- Clara Ferreira Marques,
which fragment the understanding of Antony Blinken let it be known that undertaking, a full-scale military op- Bloomberg
the opponent. Alongside the physical it supports the security concerns of eration with little regard for repercus-
battles, the mind battles are on. Russia. But he also said that China sions, an effort to destroy a neighbor Every week, we look at what the top
While a cyberattack is used to respects the sovereignty of Ukraine, and destabilize the region. It’s also commentators in the Indian media are
create panic and degrade the adver- as it should be with every country. the scale of the delusion, when it talking about and bring to you a slice
sary’s capability to fight, informa- Of course, Beijing would not yield comes to the threat posed by NATO of their opinions and comments
tion operations break the resolve to ground on the issue of sovereignty and — crucially — his country’s

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