The Narendra Modi government has always positioned India as the vishwaguru (teacher to the world) and the leader of the global South. But when Pakistan became the key mediator to broker peace between the US and Iran, there were sharp responses from the opposition, which slammed Modi's foreign policy as a "joke". However, the Centre has now flipped the narrative, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar offering to mediate the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
"If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there," Jaishankar told reporters during his visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
Jaishankar's statement echoes PM Modi's remarks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek this week.
"Every day spent on war pushes humanity backwards whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We must move from endless war towards end of war, which is very crucial for the well-being of humanity," the PM said in his opening remarks.
"A peaceful resolution of all issues as soon as possible is the call of humanity, and this is also India's message. The land of Gandhi and Buddha has a single message: the path of peace," he said.
India's renewed push for peace in Ukraine appears to be a clear answer to the opposition's allegations in the recent months. While Pakistan hosted one round of talks in the early days of ceasefire negotiations, there has been little success thereafter. Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have also tried their hands at mediation. But Trump's continued rhetoric, Iran's stubborn leadership and tit-for-tat blockades and attacks from both sides have prolonged the war and pushed the global economy into uncertainty.
It should be noted that India has always been cautious with its foreign policy. While India has close ties with the US, its ally Israel and Iran, it also does not want to risk its long-standing relationships with these countries. On the other hand, brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine appears to be logical choice and a clever move to offset the economic implications caused by the chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz.
