Counterpoint: When Biden hugs Modi at G7 in Hiroshima
By Vivekanand Jha*
As I settled to see on my television set the red carpet welcome for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G 7 summit in Hiroshima, especially the United States President Joe Biden’s standing up to give an avuncular hug to Prime Minister Modi, a wry smile instantaneously adorned my lips as I mused, ‘What a perfectly mastered hypocrisy on full display!’. How the US, considered by its rivals as the most opportunist nation on earth, barely a decade ago, had banned entry to Narendra Modi until he was elevated to the position of Prime Minister.
The geopolitics today has compelled the USA to staunchly endorse Modi as its friend, for the meteoric rise of China as the alternate world power has scurried the Americans to inevitably rush to embrace India as its fair-weather friend.
Decades back, Nixon, the then President of the USA, who later ended up as the casualty of the Watergate scam, disdainfully dismissed Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India as ‘ that witch’. Henry Kissinger, the then US Secretary of State made this revelation in his book.
Both the USA and India have moved on since then. With the entry of Jimmy Carter in the White House and Nani A Palkhivala taking to ambassadorial position in the USA, the situation had gradually begun improving. Decades down the line, even the bi-polarity has paved the way for the purported multi-polarity. Yet the geo-political exigencies demanded Biden rest in the arms of Modi at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, only because of the phenomenal rise of China in cahoots with the strategic alliance with Russia on the one hand, and North Korea on the other. Modi was a special invitee to G7 and so was Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelenskyy and both leaders had bilateral talks too on the sidelines of the G7, there!
Evidently, as I watched the G 7 leaders collectively exhibiting obsequious salutations to Narendra Modi, a vivid recollection of the past events from the Mahabharata deluged my memory cell: how Shailya, the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahdeva, on his way from his kingdom to participate in the War of Mahabharata; throughout his way, he found the lavish welcome given to him by the unknown sources. Swayed by the bedazzling welcome, irresistibly though, Shailya burst forth, even though unwisely, ‘ Whoever has been extending this grand reception to me, if he appears in front of me, I will grant him the boon of whatever he intends from me. Strategically, synchronising Shailya’s expression of his wish, Duryodhana just appeared in front of him and sought the boon of Shailya fighting for Duryodhana. Disappointed to the core, Shailya had already given his words, he had to fight in favour of Duryodhana.
Isn’t the G 7 treatment meted out to Modi akin to the hospitality extended to Shailya? Isn’t the avowed mission behind the same strikingly similar – To wean Modi away from his trusted friend Russia and make India their shield against troublesome China?
Perceptibly, it is this act of deception which the G7 group has unfolded upon Narendra Modi, to create a rift between India and Russia and pit India against an already hostile China. But one thing is for sure – never before was India in such an unenviable position. Therefore shouldn’t Modi expediently utilise this ostensible bonhomie of G7 leaders with him to his advantage? Perhaps, this appears the most opportune time for settling nothing short of the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as the first step towards trusting NATO. Let Modi deftly negotiate for the same while keeping intact his time-tested relations with Russia. The Bismarckian vision suggests Modi’s tightrope walking without sacrificing India’s strategic interest. Significantly, being a mediator to bring the ongoing war in Ukraine to an end, should not jeopardise India’s long-term strategic interest. This is what the Bismarckian vision of diplomacy suggests today for keeping intact the interest of India.
After all, Modi should not prove himself to be another Shailya of the Mahabharata!
