India and China’s Stance: Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated that India and China could have conveyed their opposition to Russia regarding the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine directly to Moscow.
Despite not condemning Moscow’s actions, both countries have called for peaceful talks to resolve the conflict. Blinken will be visiting India to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Delhi, where he will also meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“India and China have more influence on Russia and this could have helped stalling use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield,” said Secretary Blinken in an interview he gave to The Atlantic.”We urged, and I think successfully, other countries that might have a little bit more influence with Russia these days, like China, but also other countries like India, to engage him [Putin] directly about their absolute opposition to any use of nuclear weapons. And we know that they conveyed those messages, and I think that had some effect. Something we always have to look at, but again, the track record to date suggests that the escalation that some feared has, at least to now, not happened,” said Blinken
Blinken recognized the longstanding relationship between India and Russia but also acknowledged the improving relations between India and the US.
“India for decades had Russia at the core providing military equipment to it and its defenses, but what we’ve seen over the last few years is a trajectory away from relying on Russia and moving into partnership with us and with other countries like France,” he added.
