Former PM Manmohan Singh backs Modi government on Russia-Ukraine war stand

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh praised the Modi government's stand on the Russia-Ukraine war, saying the country has "done the right thing by prioritising its sovereign and economic interests while advocating for peace".

India has consistently maintained that peaceful dialogue is the only way to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

Manmohan Singh's remarks assumed significance as world leaders arrived in Delhi for the G20 Summit which will be held from September 9-10. The Russia-Ukraine war, which has been ongoing since February 2022, is expected to be in focus during the summit.

In an interview with the Indian Express, Manmohan Singh addressed the changing international order, particularly in light of the Russia-Ukraine war and the geopolitical rift between Western nations and China. He asserted that India, as a peaceful democracy with constitutional values and a growing economy, has a pivotal role to play in steering this new world order.

Manmohan Singh, who served as the Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, said that he was "more optimistic about India’s future than worried", but that optimism is "contingent on India being a harmonious society".

He also said it is equally important to exercise restraint in using diplomacy and foreign policy for party or personal politics. He noted that India's standing in the world should be a matter of domestic political concern, but it should not be exploited for partisan gain.

Regarding the G20 Summit, the former Prime Minister highlighted the forum's purpose as a platform for policy coordination to tackle global challenges such as climate change, inequality and confidence in global trade. He, however, advised against using the summit as a venue for settling security-related conflicts.

Manmohan Singh said he was glad to witness the G20 Summit being hosted by India and the bloc's presidency currently held by New Delhi.

"I am very glad that India’s rotational chance for the Presidency of the G20 came during my lifetime and I am witness to India hosting world leaders for the G20 summit," he said.

The former Prime Minister spoke about Chinese President Xi Jinping's decision to not attend the G20 Summit, saying it was "unfortunate". He expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor, would take the necessary steps to protect India's territorial and sovereign integrity and defuse bilateral tensions.

Speaking on India's role in the global economy, he said the country's external trade as a share of its GDP doubled in the decade from 2005 to 2015, which helped to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty.

He also stated that India's economy was now much more integrated with the global economy.

Manmohan Singh said talks of de-globalisation and new types of trade restrictions could disrupt the existing world order but can also open new opportunities for India in global supply chains.

"It is in India’s economic interests to not get trapped in conflicts and maintain an equilibrium of trading relationships across nations and regions," he said.

Manmohan Singh also congratulated Isro scientists on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made a historic landing on the Moon's south polar region last month. During his tenure, Chandrayaan-1 was launched in 2008.

"Our efforts over the last seven decades in promoting scientific temper in society and creating institutions have yielded enormous gains and made us all proud," he said.