Modi's Kyiv Visit Will "Make Amends for Badly Timed” Putin Bearhug, Help India Rebalance With West
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Published 2024-07-30
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In an interview to discuss a visit to Ukraine in August which Prime Minister Modi is reported to be considering, Shashi Tharoor has said it would “make amends” and be “a rebalancing” for Modi’s visit to Moscow three weeks ago. Mr. Tharoor described Mr. Modi’s “bear hug” with Vladimir Putin as “a setback” adding it was “most unfortunately badly timed”. Mr. Tharoor said the bear hug, which coincided with a major NATO Summit in Washington and a Russian attack on a children’s hospital in Ukraine which killed 37, gave the wrong impression to the Western world. He said the same about a phrase in the Indo-Russian joint statement which spoke about the war “around Ukraine” rather than in Ukraine. He suggested that a visit to Ukraine would make amends for both.
In a 25-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Shashi Tharoor, a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, a former Under Secretary General of the UN and a four time Congress MP, said “(President) Biden is rethinking some of his enthusiasm to India” and the message being conveyed by the US is “we have other partners in Asia”. Therefore, Mr. Tharoor said “tough conversations from Washington are not entirely surprising”.
Mr. Tharoor said so far Washington has been “indulgent” of India’s increasing reliance on Russian oil and, although not happy with Delhi’s refusal to criticize Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, has sought to treat this as an irritant and not allowed it to damage relations.
But, at the same time, Mr. Tharoor added there are signs that Biden could be “rethinking some of his enthusiasm to India”. In the interview Mr. Tharoor lists the reasons which lead him to this conclusion.
Mr. Tharoor said its possible that “Moscow will be miffed” by Prime Minster Modi’s Ukraine visit. There is, therefore, a danger that India could end up “caught between two stools”.
I am only giving you the big broad points made by Mr. Tharoor. This is not a precis or paraphrase of the interview. There is a lot more in the interview which you should see for yourself. I am simply recounting from memory the headline points he has made. I strongly recommend you see the full interview to understand the context as well as the details with which Mr. Tharoor has spoken.
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All Comments (21)
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Sashi is a consummate diplomat. I commend his opinion. Karan is clearly opinionated.
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Very impressive views have been given by Shashi Tharoor about relationships with Russia and Ukraine and America. N.B.Shrivastava
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Karan did not get the answer he wished so and abruptly ended the conversation!!!
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Papa still won't visit Manipur
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Excellent observations by Shashi Tharoor....Karan is just a journalist who has nothing to lose...So he can keep on hollaring that Mr Modi should make his position on Ukraine public...We as a nation are in an extremely difficult position having to do a fine balancing act and Shashi understands that well when he tell Karan not to under estimate the power of private conversations. For Karan its just another episode of the Wire but for India its a very tricky situation.
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Such an articulate politician never to be the PM is really a lost for our nation
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It's so refreshing to listen to an fiesty informed debate between these two erudite educated gents that's doesn't becomes haywire like godi debates.
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Karan, have the courtesy to listen to your guests. Let them complete their point.
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So US saw a coalition govt and got tough Well that explains why we don't need a coalition
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Shashi Tharoor shld be training of Foreign minister Shiv shankar aiyer
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Karan has always an agenda for interview - he somehow wants Shashi to criticize our foreign policy-:)
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this made me realise that dr tharoor was in un , very impressive dr saab
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Karan Thapar should learn to be a journalist and not a mouth piece of Ukraine or ideologically opposed to Modi. His spirited opposition to Modi’s policy is obvious.
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Shashi Tharoor's opinions and perspectives are so very insightful, informative and interesting!
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Two nice indian guys
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Karan is batting hard for his home land masters-:)
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Tharoor is promoting two faced diplomacy! Its never a win win situation,
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Karan is upset as Sashiji’s answers were very practical and realistic. As usual Karan expects answers to his liking
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Modiji is s peacemsker not s war monger.
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Why you say the same intro for each everytime-"special interview for the Wire". It actually dilutes the speciality. So suggest some as special
