'India's done the right thing on Ukraine in putting its interests first'
Financial Express Mumbai|September 08, 2023
In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, India has a pivotal role” in steering” the new world order and has done the right thing in putting its sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace,’ former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said. In an exclusive interview to Manoj CG & P Vaidyanathan Iyer ahead of the G20 summit that begins Saturday, Singh said that he was more optimistic about India’s future than worried,” but that optimism is contingent on India being a harmonious society.”
'India's done the right thing on Ukraine in putting its interests first'

Singh, during whose term the G20, as a leaders’ summit, came into being after the 2008 financial crisis, also struck a note of caution calling for restraint” in using diplomacy and foreign policy for party or personal politics.” Excerpts:

India hosts the G20 summit beginning Saturday; you were Prime Minister for a decade (2004-14) during which you were a part of many G20 summits. How do you see the changing or evolving role of foreign policy in domestic politics?

A I am very glad that India's rotational chance for the Presidency of the G20 came during my lifetime and I am witness to India hosting world leaders for the G20 summit. Foreign policy has always been an important element of India's governance framework, but it is fair to say that it has become even more relevant and important to domestic politics today than earlier. While India's standing in the world should rightfully bean issue in domestic politics, it is equally important to exercise restraint in using diplomacy and foreign policy for party or personal politics.

How do you view India's place at the global high table now and its role in the current and changing world order?

The international order is very different now, especially after the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the geo-political rift between the Western nations and China. India has a pivotal role to play in steering this new world order. As a peaceful large democracy with Constitutional values, built since Independence, anda large growing economy, India commands immense respect globally. 

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