Russia-Ukraine conflict has widened the scope of political leveraging, says S. Jaishankar
The Hindu
The Union Minister feels that due to the conflict, trade, debt and tourism are being weaponised and used as pressure points
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar feels that the Ukraine conflict has dramatically widened the scope of political leveraging as trade, debt and tourism are being weaponised and used as pressure points.
The political consequences of globalisation have created its own backlash and the world is seeing a revived interest in strategic autonomy, he said on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"The unfairness of globalisation and stresses of the Covid experience has been aggravated by shortages and costs that derive from the developments in Ukraine. As a result, we are headed for a far more uncertain and insecure existence," he said delivering a lecture at IIM Calcutta on Wednesday night.
India has maintained a neutral stand on the Russia-Ukraine war that has escalated since early this year. India has called for peace and the need to end the war through diplomacy.
Mr. Jaishankar said "weaponisation" of everything from trade to tourism is leading to more significant changes in international affairs.
"In recent years we have seen how trade, connectivity, debt, resources and even tourism have become points of political pressure. The Ukraine conflict has widened the scope of political leveraging," he said.
The Union Minister said India now has the ability and responsibility to shape the global landscape as expressed in mechanisms like Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) and commonly known as QUAD.