In our book, The Proxy War in Ukraine: Russia vs NATO (2022) I as one of the coauthors that lavishly praised India’s position of neutrality based on its strategic diplomacy and in consonance to its historical legacy of non-alignment.

Despite the numerous demands, cajoling and wooing from the US regime and the European Union (EU) for it to denounced Russia and stop from buying its oil, India against all odds remains consistent to its foreign policy.

New Delhi’s delicate and complicated balancing act of maintaining its relations with the West yet at the same time not distancing or offending one of its primary partners at BRICS I would say is a masterstroke. While calling for a deescalation of the hostilities and correspondingly for ceasefire, they are at the same time maximized and enjoyed the supply of discounted fuel from Russia. This I maintained as a perfect example of a true independent foreign policy that I wish other countries may emulate.

In the lucid words of Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the External Minister, India is governed by the principle of Vishwa Mitra. This term is used to describe India’s foreign policy approach, positioning the country as a “Friend to the World”.

That was then, specifically on the Russia-Ukraine war. However, I cannot say the same thing at the ongoing US/Israel war on Iran.

As aptly reported by Bhim Bhurtel of the Support Asia Times, “Modi’s silence on Iran lost India’s voice in the Middle East”, March 4, 2026:

“The timing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel, just 48 hours before American and Israeli warplanes struck Iranian targets, has become the central symbol of India’s diplomatic miscalculation.”

Further, “Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the visit’s messaging as deliberate — reaffirming support for “Palestinian statehood” while maintaining “principled equidistance” between Iran and Israel.

“But in diplomacy, timing is substance. A visit to one party on the eve of its attack on another is not equidistance. It is a choice. International media was blunt: Bloomberg called the trip “suspicious and diplomatically risky,” while an Israeli journalist described Modi’s role as a “cheap advertisement” for Netanyahu’s election campaign.”

India’s miscalculation

Whatever “reputation” India has cultivated through the years since its Independence for its so-called “strategic autonomy”; that is maintaining parallel relationships with Israel, Iran and the Gulf emirs and sheikhs while avoiding entanglement in their conflicts is now shattered. That visit destroys India’s so-called “neutrality” and long cherished “non-alignment”.

The betrayal and destruction of its non-alignment

One the first day of the unprovoked war, it was not only the Supreme Leader of Iran, government officials and military commanders that was killed, but also civilians, notably 170 school children in Minab.

India did not condemn this abominable act of terror and indeed a war crime worst, its silence is deafening. I concur with the accusation of the Indian opposition that PM Modi is guilty of “the highest moral cowardice.” Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot also said, “I believe the timing of PM Modi’s visit (to Israel) was not correct, and the speech given (by PM Modi) casts doubt on India’s impartiality.” (‘Moral cowardice’: PM Modi’s Israel visit under fire as US-Israel launch strikes on Iran, Aarish Chhabra, Hindustan Times, March 11, 2026)

In the incisive and brutal words of India’s world-renowned writer and activists, Arundhati Roy:

“…let me simply say that I stand with Iran. Unequivocally. Any regimes that need changing, including the US, Israel and ours, need to be changed by the people, not by some bloated, lying, cheating, greedy, resource-grabbing, bomb-dropping imperial power and its allies who are trying to bully the whole world into submission.

“Iran is standing up to them, while India cowers. I am ashamed of how gutless, how spineless our government has been. Long ago we were a poor country of very poor people. But we had pride. We had dignity. Today we are a rich country with very poor, unemployed people who are fed on a diet of hatred, poison and falsehoods instead of real food. We have lost pride. We have lost dignity. We have lost courage. Except in our movies.” (‘I Am Ashamed of How Gutless, Spineless Our Government Has Been’: Arundhati Roy on US-Israel War on Iran, Jahnavi Sen, The Wire, March 9, 2026)

Consequences

India act of miscalculation and betrayal of its principle of “strategic autonomy” or “non-alignment” will have a grave repercussion not only in the future but for a long time. The act of leaving behind a long-time and reliable partner in BRICS and in appearing to sanction or siding to the imperialist sponsor of genocide and crimes against humanity will not only leave a bad taste in the mouth but will serve as a permanent stain to its reputation in the world.

Jose Mario D. De Vega

PhD Candidate

Philippine Studies (Major in Philosophy)

Asian Center

University of the Philippines Diliman