Disgraceful Decline in Exercising Sovereignty

The United States’ ‘permission’ to India for a 30-day waiver on purchase of oil from Russia and India’s refusal to condemn the US submarine attack on Iranian frigate IRIS-Dena close to India’s territorial waters, convey disturbing signs of India’s sovereignty being compromised.  First, the sinking of the Iranian frigate on March 4 by a US submarine in Indian Ocean waters raises several questions. The IRIS-Dena was on its return journey to Iran following participation in naval exercise MILAN at Vizag port at India’s invitation. 

It was attacked with a Mark 48 torpedo and went down the sea with 137 Iranian sailors, of whom 80 are confirmed to be dead. India’s refusal to condemn the attack has led to questions if it is in line with the policy to not to be seen among those condemning the United States for waging a totally illegal war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was only after five days of Iranian spiritual leader Ali Khamenei’s targeted killing by the US-Israeli attack that foreign secretary Vikram Misri registered India’s condolence at the Iranian Mission in Delhi.

Vacillation characterised the diffidence that has come to occupy the core of foreign policy making. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have preferred not to break their silence on the dastardly killing of a nation’s head. Even the bombing of a girl’s school in Iran by Israeli bomber leading to death of over 165 girls has failed to invite expression of wrath from India. Furthermore, the fact that IRIS-Dena was attacked in Indian Ocean close to Indian territorial waters should have prompted condemnation from India.

India has time and again declared itself guardian of the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean and indicated that its strategic interests span an area beginning from the mouth of Straits of Malacca to the Suez Canal.  An attack on a friendly vessel, which normally doesn’t carry any arms while participating in such ceremonial events, constitutes an outrage which should have attracted condemnation in the severest terms. It deserves a higher degree of remorse and indignation for the fact that even the US Navy had been invited for the occasion but withdrew from participation in a premeditated bid to perpetrate the attack on the Iranian frigate.

The manner is total cowardly and warrants the MEA to raise the issue with the United States, lest Indian foreign policy loses the remnant sheen. The marked changes in India’s stance soon after Mr. Modi’s return from Tel Aviv and refusal to come clean on Epstein file details pertaining to Union Home Minister Hardeep Sing Puri point to India’s foreign policy coming under strain. India will be risking denting of its image among the comity of nations as an upholder of peace and a standard-bearer of moral values in global ties if it fails to rectify its Israel-ward tilt in dealing with key issues pertaining to foreign policy. The current state points to a disgraceful decline in matters of exercising its sovereignty and autonomy in pursuing a trajectory of its own choice.