Why are European countries upset with Putin’s visit to India? Jaishankar said- Don’t teach us, otherwise you will cause harm.

Not only is America in tension due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, European countries are also upset. Powerful countries like Britain, France and Germany have strangely opened a front. Keeping friendship with India at stake, they are making unrestrained statements. India has expressed strong objection considering it an attack on its sovereignty and diplomatic etiquette. But the strongest answer was given by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar. Jaishankar, while engaging the western countries on a different front, has made it clear that if they do not desist from their policies, they will be the ones to suffer the loss.

This is one of Putin’s rare foreign trips since the start of the Ukraine war. Western countries, especially America and Europe, have been trying to isolate Putin on the global stage for the last three years. But when India, the world’s largest democracy, is ready to welcome Putin with a ‘red carpet’ welcome, this campaign of the West seems to be weakening. This is the reason that even before Putin’s plane landed, the three big countries of Europe, Britain, France and Germany, started a new debate in Delhi. Just before Putin’s visit, a joint article was published in a leading English newspaper in India. The person who wrote this was not an ordinary writer, but was the ambassador of three countries posted in India. British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, French Ambassador Thierry Matthau, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann wrote a joint article. These three diplomats directly termed Vladimir Putin as the ‘villain’ of the Ukraine war. He wrote, Russia is not serious about peace. Putin is the only leader who can stop the war whenever he wants, but he is not doing so.

Understand in 10 points why European countries are so upset?

1. ‘Isolation plan’ failure: For the last 3 years, Western countries have used all their strength to make Putin ‘untouchable’ in the world. But when India, the world’s largest democracy, welcomes Putin’s ‘red carpet’, this entire plan of the West goes to waste.
2. India’s ‘Strategic Autonomy’: Europe wanted India to stand in their camp. But India made it clear that it will take its own decisions. India standing with Russia is an attack on the ego of the West, in which they believe that whoever is not with us is against us.
3. Record oil purchases from Russia: European countries imposed oil sanctions to break Russia’s economy. But India saved Russia’s economy from sinking by buying record cheap oil from Russia. Europe is irritated by the fact that their sanctions are becoming ineffective because of India.
4. Not accepting the image of ‘war criminal’: Western media and leaders call Putin a ‘war criminal’. He wanted India also to speak the same language. But India rejected this European narrative by giving Putin the status of an honored ‘State Guest’.
5. Fear of PM Modi’s statement: Europe has repeatedly used PM Modi’s statement that this is not an era of war to its advantage. But it became clear from this visit that Modi’s statement was an ‘appeal for peace’, not a declaration of ‘enmity towards Russia’. This weakened his propaganda.
6. Impact on Global South: India is the voice of developing countries. If India continues doing business with Putin, other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America will also refuse to succumb to Western pressure. This is a threat to the global dominance of the West.
7. Defense deals to continue: NATO countries want India to end its dependence on Russian weapons (like S-400) and buy weapons from them. Putin’s visit means that defense relations between India and Russia will strengthen, which is bad news for western arms companies.
8. ‘Showing the mirror’ of India: Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has told Europe on many forums that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s. This outspoken style of India and now the welcome of Putin, pricks the ‘superiority complex’ (feeling of superiority) of Europe.
9. Fear of Russia-China alliance: The West fears that if India leaves Russia, then Russia will completely fall into China’s lap. But India is maintaining balance by maintaining friendship with Russia. What irritates Europe is that they are not able to work this complex equation as per their wish.
10. Crossing the diplomatic ‘Lakshman Rekha’: The latest reason for their irritation is that India reminded them of their limits by declaring their ambassadors’ article unacceptable. He did not expect that India would react so strongly to his article and teach him a lesson in diplomatic etiquette.

Jaishankar’s challenge – If you tease us, you will bear it

While on one side ‘letter war’ was going on through ambassadors, on the other side India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar gave a strong message to the western countries from a different platform. This message was about migration and talent. Jaishankar’s tone was telling that India is no longer in the mood to listen, but has the power to tell. In ‘India Global Forum’, Jaishankar attacked the growing anti-immigrant mentality in western countries. He said, do not blame us for your mistakes. The economic problems in the West are not due to immigrants. If there is concern about job losses in America or Europe, it is because in the last 20 years you deliberately sent your businesses out. This was your strategy. Stop blaming immigrants to fix it now. The Foreign Minister warned that we are now in the era of ‘knowledge economy’. If you create obstacles in the flow of talent, ultimately the ‘total loss’ will be yours. You need India’s skilled workforce, not your pity.