A FORMIDABLE SUPER POWER : TRILATERAL DIPLOMACY : INDIA, CHINA, RUSSIA CAN WORK TOGETHER
As R. N. Das writes, Multilateralism, regionalism and sub-regionalism are increasingly becoming the trend and norm of geopolitics and an integral aspect of international relations. There is a perception that the trilateral diplomacy and cooperation of India, China and Russia, though in a very embryonic stage, offers great potential for regional stability and cooperation and the trio will be a formidable power to balance and equal US and Europe, together.
The first ever summit level meeting of the three countries held in June 2005 in Vladivostok, Russia, had aroused considerable interest among observers. Analysts believe that the dialogue may be acquiring a strategic dimension. After the first summit meeting, the Foreign Ministers of these three countries have met four times and exchanged views on issues of common concern, the latest being in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on the sidelines of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) meeting held on May 15. The second meeting had been held in New Delhi in February 2007 and the third at Harbin in China in October 2007.
The importance of the trilateral initiative can be attributed to the fact that India, Russia and China, as countries with growing international influence, can make substantive contributions to global peace, security and stability. It is increasingly felt that the cooperation, rather than confrontation should govern approaches to regional and global issues. The fast growing economies of these countries offer very good opportunities for cooperation in many areas such as energy and fighting the menace of terrorism, which was emphasized at the meeting.
The three countries together encompass approximately 40 percent of the world’s 6.5 billion people. The objective of the trilateral cooperation has been very clearly articulated, stating that the trilateral cooperation is not directed against the interests of any single country and on the contrary is aimed at promoting international harmony and to facilitate a multi polar world. As India, China and Russia enjoy economic growth and development never seen before in their history earlier, they appear to be raising a louder voice on the world scene.
Putin, who demitted the office of the President and is currently the Prime Minister of Russia, has been articulating a vision for a multi polar world. Russia believes that multilateral diplomacy based on international law should manage regional and global relations. In his Munich speech earlier last year, Putin had said that a “unipolar world had failed to materialize and that the new international system has not one but several leading actors and their collective leadership is needed to manage global relations.” He said further that this multi polarity encourages the use of the network of diplomacy as the best way for states to achieve shared objectives.
India is of the view that trilateral cooperation would help in contributing to peace and development in the region and the world at large. Articulating the ideal and the objective of the trilateral configuration. Russia is of the view that as the three countries uphold the concept of a multi polar world and frequently take similar stands at multilateral bodies, they could utilize the synergy to promote their domestic economic development. China feels that the three countries could join hands in several fields, including trade, energy, science and technology, to broaden strategic ties with each other. In the context, the trilateral meeting assumes significance because the forum of Foreign Ministers could be useful to chalk out a concrete road map. Trilateral cooperation would help in contributing to peace and development in the region and the world at large. Besides economic cooperation and fighting the scourge of terrorism, the three countries of the region have a convergence of outlook and approach to many regional and international issues like development in Myanmar, the Iran nuclear issue, Afghanistan and Kosovo, etc.
India’s opposition to impose sanctions against Myanmar and advance political reforms and national reconciliation in that country, find support both from Russia and China. The convergence of approach of these three countries on Iran’s nuclear program is also well known. The imperatives of multilateral cooperation through a regional and sub-regional configuration is the need of the hour to harness and synergize the regional strength for the enlightened national interests of the countries of the region, for their mutual benefit and for global peace and prosperity. Prosperity has to be shared and should not be allowed to be monopolized.
Leave Your Comments