Indian Diplomacy: National Interest or Morality

National interest: It is a country's self-interest like security interest, defense interest, strategic interest, economic interest, trade, and cultural interest.

In political science, international relation two approaches are being followed: 

1. Idealistic 

2. Realistic or Pragmatic 

Idealistic approach, a country should prioritize morality, values, ethics, and principles because these entities show civilized democracy.

Realistic pragmatic approach, a country can't rely on moral high ground in every situation or it has to compromise on its national interest. Countries coldly opt for their national interest by ignoring morality and idealistic viewpoint. 

Where India Stands

• India's Relations have warmed in recent years and cooperation has strengthened across a range of economic and political areas with many countries and to achieve this India is also following "Realistic Politik" for quite a long time. 

• Russia-Ukraine War: We have chosen not to criticize Russia at any cost. We have urged Russia to end this war, we urged for negotiations, we urged for peace but this is not a criticism. We have not criticized Russia to breach international law. India has abstained from any vote against Russia. This is all because Russia is a time-trusted friend from the Soviet era and it is also a strategic partner of India. India also bypassed the Western sanctions and we have continued trade with Russia, we are purchasing Oil and Natural gas and we have imported weapons from Russia. 

• Case of Myanmar: We can see a similar approach in the case of Myanmar, Since the 1960s military has done very large-scale atrocities but India turned a blind eye to it and has never criticized there is a particular reason for that. As we know that the North East Region is very vulnerable to insurgency and infiltration and China may possibly fund Myanmar-based insurgent groups which is a breach of our national security to resolve this India is following a Realistic and Pragmatic approach. There have been many military coups and human right violation but India has never criticized Myanmar over this rather we have helped Myanmar, we have invested in it, sold weapons, have given funds, we even have close military relations with Myanmar and several times we have bypassed the Western sanctions to trade with Myanmar.
  

India in the dock

• Ukrainian first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs has bluntly criticized India for its foreign policy. On one hand, we say we are the Vishwa Guru and we are completely against crime and we prioritize our morality but on the other hand we are ignoring crimes against humanity. India has heard the same complaint from Western diplomats also. 
• India has been accused of contradiction in its own foreign policy. But the reality is almost every country has the same contradictory approach to its foreign policy and it might appear hypocritical sometimes but countries have to meet their national interest and a lot of important aspects are dependent on such an approach as we have seen in the case of Myanmar, it is completely about our national security and there is very little India can do to protect human rights and to protect democracy. Realism dictated that there is no harm in maintaining good relations with Myanmar doesn't matter who is in power and who is in administration so there is nothing wrong with this approach to be followed.
•  In the case of Russia India can't stop Russia from invading Ukraine by criticizing it and not even convenience Russia to stop all this, so sometimes there is nothing you can do so it is better to focus on the core national interest of the country and to maintain some good international relations.

Other country's approach

• In 1956 Anglo-French Invasion of Egypt when President Gamal Abdel Nasser's step of nationalization of the Suez Canal. They did this to protect their national interest because Suez Canal is strategic for international trade and the global economy.

• U.S. action during the Vietnam invasion during the cold war era. 

• Russian Invasion and operation on Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and later Afghanistan 

• The U.S. criticizes Russia and China for human right violation but closely works with countries that curb and ruin the status of human rights like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and many African countries. This all is being done to maintain the national interest and self-interest of the country 

Conclusion

This diplomatic approach of India to maintain the self-interest of the nation is contradictory and will cause problems in the world order, its status, and its values. The point here is India has become more aggressive towards this approach than earlier, previously when we needed to save our national interest we have followed Realism and we have also followed Idealism more often. We can't simply say that other countries are doing the same that's why we are also following, To emerge as a regional power and to maintain a status in the world order we have to make it clear, what is the need to follow this approach.