Memo #64
Harsh V. Pant – harsh.pant [at] kcl.ac.uk
This is a time of great tumult in the Middle East. All major global powers are struggling with tough choices to strike a balance between their values and strategic interests in responding to the unfolding crisis in Libya. India is no exception but it is particularly under the spotlight as it assumed the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in January.
New Delhi supported the UNSC resolution imposing sanctions on the Muammar el-Qaddafi regime. The resolution included a comprehensive arms embargo designed to prevent arms and military equipment going to Libya. It also froze economic resources “owned or controlled, directly or indirectly,” by designated Qaddafi family members. But the ongoing discussions about the possibility of imposing a no-fly zone are making New Delhi more nervous.
India, the world’s most populous democracy, has silently watched the events unfold in the Middle East. In many ways, this reticence is understandable. The region has been witnessing a highly unpredictable situation and the government has been thinking through the implications. Moreover, for New Delhi to comment on events unfolding in the region would have been hypocritical. India takes seriously the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. Much like China, India has traditionally resisted interventionist foreign policy doctrines emanating from the West. It displays conservative attitudes on the prerogatives of sovereignty.
Yet, India claims to be a rising global power. On top of its easy victory to become a non-permanent member of the UNSC, it also has the US endorsement for a permanent seat. This reflects recognition of India’s credentials as a major global actor. But India still needs to convince the world that it has a legitimate claim to a permanent seat. Now in the spotlight, India is finding its actions on critical global issues subjected to close and critical scrutiny. This includes its silence on the democratic turmoil in the Middle East. As a result, India is being forced to jettison its old foreign policy assumptions and strike a delicate balance between the pursuit of its narrow national interest and its responsibility as a rising power to help maintain global peace and stability. To a large extent, India’s success in this endeavor will determine its future global profile.
About the Author:
Harsh V. Pant – Department of Defence Studies at King’s College London.
Links:
- Pant, Harsh. India in the Indian Ocean: Growing Mismatch Between Ambitions and Capabilities, Pacific Affairs, Volume 82, No. 2, Summer 2009
- Talks on no-fly zone in Libya very preliminary: India, Rediff News, March 2011
- India backs UN sanctions against Libya, Hindustan Times, February 2011
- India Must Decide What It Is Rising For, World Politics Review, November 2010
Related Memos:
- Our other Memos about India and the Middle East