In a significant break from the Eurasian security bloc’s collective position, India has formally declined to join a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) statement denouncing Israel’s recent military attacks on Iran.
This action reinforces the impression that New Delhi is becoming more and more aligned with Israel on important international issues, especially after India abstained from a vote in the UN General Assembly demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a statement, the SCO—which is made up of important regional actors like China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan—denounced the Israeli attack on Iran as a breach of international law and the UN Charter, pointing out that it targeted civilian infrastructure and warning of the dangers to world peace.
India, however, reaffirmed its own stance and made it clear that it was not involved in the talks that resulted in the statement, highlighting diplomacy, dialogue, and restraint as the best paths to de-escalation. The Indian government called on all parties to prevent further escalation and noted that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had already conveyed India’s concerns to his Iranian counterpart.
India has previously deviated from the SCO’s consensus on this matter. Due mostly to concerns pertaining to Chinese interests, it has previously declined to support China’s Belt and Road Initiative and chosen not to participate in the SCO’s economic development plan. But the current distance is especially important because it concerns a delicate security matter in which both Pakistan and Iran—nations with which India has
A careful balancing act is evident in India’s recent diplomatic actions. The nation’s strong defense and security partnership with Israel seems to be a deciding factor in its current posture, even though it still maintains “civilizational ties” and continuous cooperation with Iran in areas like trade and counterterrorism. Israeli military technology has recently helped Indian forces in regional conflicts, further solidifying the two countries’ relationship.
At home, opposition parties have harshly criticized India for not participating in the UN ceasefire vote and for not joining the SCO condemnation. The Congress party has charged that the government is diplomatically isolating India and has abandoned India’s longstanding position supporting peace, dialogue, and justice in the Middle East. These actions, according to critics, represent a dramatic departure from India’s long-standing non-aligned
The Indian government insists that its actions are in line with a long-standing policy of encouraging communication and diplomacy as the only practical ways to settle disputes, notwithstanding the criticism. Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized that abstentions on Israel-Palestine issues show a preference for negotiating a solution rather than passing a resolution denouncing it.
India has reassessed its foreign policy priorities in light of the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, as evidenced by its decision to withdraw from the SCO statement denouncing Israel and its abstention from the UN. Although the nation still values its alliances with Iran and the SCO, its strategic partnership with Israel, especially in the area of defense, now seems to play a significant role in determining its foreign policy.
