Air Force general, told Newsweek. Russia, not surprisingly, signed on to Beijing’s effort, but so did India, which is now playing a pivotal role in the region and beyond. So has India defected to America’s adversaries and enemies?
Beijing has been working hard to woo fellow SCO member India. The Chinese appear to be succeeding. On Tuesday, India and the other SCO members adopted the Bishkek Declaration as the organization concluded its 26th summit in the Kyrgyz capital.
The declaration condemned “military strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to the country’s economy.” It said the attacks “violate the principles and norms of international law and the U.N. charter and create serious risks to international peace, security, and stability.” The Bishkek Declaration also expressed “sincere condolences” for the “tragic death of Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei” and affirmed “support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Iran. The document said the members oppose “unilateral coercive measures” not endorsed by the U.N. and the World Trade Organization. In addition, the declaration also affirmed Iran’s right to a nuclear program.
Concern about India’s move toward China is part of fears that the world is moving away from the U.S. For instance, CNN reported that “China-Led SCO Summit Puts Global Power Shift on Display.” Is the pessimism justified? After all, members of the group, according to one report, account for 24 percent of the world’s land area, 34 percent of global gross domestic product, and 41 percent of world population.
Although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assented to the Bishkek Declaration, his opposition to the U.S. is more apparent than real. India, most fundamentally, has a China problem. The India-China relationship, more than most bilateral tie-ups, is complicated.
Ultimately, China and India cannot reconcile until Beijing drops territorial claims to large portions of India, such as the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Also, New Delhi cannot forget China’s continual support for archrival Pakistan. India going it alone, as we saw with its dissent at the last BRICS confab, may draw ire in Beijing and Moscow, and Delhi’s recalcitrance works well for Washington, which does not need a new alliance to confront now.” As Holt indicates, Modi has been instrumental in preventing Beijing from using the BRICS grouping as an anti-American instrument.
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