The Forum for Global Studies, New Delhi, and a multidisciplinary global think tank organized an exclusive interview with special guest, Dr. Amitabh Singh, on the theme, “Assessing India’s Stand on Russia-Ukraine Face-Off.” The programme started with the welcome speech delivered by FGS Founding President Dr Sandeep Tripathi. He extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guest, Dr. Amitabh Singh, Associate Professor School of Journalism Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and welcomed the moderator for the interview, Mr. Mayank Singh, Defence Correspondent, The New Indian Express, New Delhi.
The interview vastly focused on the contemporary situation between Russia and Ukraine highlighting the role of NATO and understanding India’s context for the same. Dr. Amitabh very adequately started the discussion by giving a brief background about the topic as he states often the media educates us only about the narrative of the West. He begun by explaining the relationship between Russia and Ukraine as part of Soviet Union. Both were Russian speaking land, had common people, morals. Dr. Amitabh explained up until year 2000 everything was largely normal, and the major problem for Ukraine only arose at the time of nuclear question. During that time and since 2004 onwards Ukraine started feeling tension amidst the two and felt Ukraine was surrounded by hostile power. There was also an unwritten guarantee that NATO will not expand on what it already exists. However, the tensions could be felt but at no point war was suggested.
A very interesting topic of discussion was “why would NATO want this?” An immediate answer to that is Russia is the common enemy of NATO. However, Dr. Amitabh further explained that NATO is not a unified unit anymore, it has developed into several strands, such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany. He further stated that the level of intervention should be guarded in terms of military support. Dr. Amitabh believed that NATO is only intervening because after Afghanistan it has no one to otherize, hence, creating problem out of Russia. Although in this situation, Russia is only gaining as NATO is not unified and there is no war happening. The last section of the interview focused on India’s stand as India has close relations with both Russia and the United States. According to Dr. Amitabh, India is very silent on these issues and chose to observe but do not favour either Russia or Ukraine. He insists that India should be proactive and influence healthy relations. Furthermore, he also touched the topic of tensions between Russia and China. In the end, it was discussed that why would Russia attack as it has been able to put its point clear about no further expansion and compelled to form an understanding on smaller issues. Lastly, Dr. Sandeep Tripathi put forward his views on the topic and thanked Dr. Amitabh for the beautiful insights and for gracing FGS with his presence for the interview.