India’s staunch support for Israel often puts it at odds with its traditional positioning as a voice of the Global South. This contradiction was once again on display when the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) issued a sharp statement criticising Israel’s actions. While most member countries — including China, Russia, and key Central Asian nations — aligned themselves with the sentiment, India’s silence stood out, highlighting the growing divergence between New Delhi’s geopolitical choices and the expectations of its southern partners.
India Keeps Its Distance From SCO Statement Condemning Israel
In an increasingly polarised and fluid international situation, India’s attempts to have a toe in both camps come with their own problems.
Playing Both Sides
India, long used to playing both sides and tip-toeing around sensitive issues, is increasingly finding itself aligned with the US and the Western bloc. Sometimes this pays off, but as New Delhi found out during the recent flare-up with Pakistan, that the world did not roundly condemn Islamabad as India would have liked, while every nation quickly condemned the terror act in Pahalgam.
New Delhi, however, had its way with Russia and Ukraine. It had its cake and ate it too. India played footsie with both sides, refusing to abandon its traditional friendship with Russia, despite enormous pressure from the Biden administration and European countries. India bought cheap oil from Russia while at the same time keeping its ties with Ukraine open. Prime Minister Modi’s statement This is not the age of war resounded across the world. Sometimes Delhi gets away with clever wording.
But it has stood away from the Global South when it comes to support for Israel in the Gaza war. India has shed the traditional moral high ground it had always had in the past by refusing to condemn Israel’s acts in Gaza. While the rest of the Global South, including African nations, have stood in solidarity with the people of Gaza, India has remained neutral. At this rate, it will be difficult for New Delhi to remain the voice of the Global South and make way for China, which sees itself as the leader of the developing world.
Statement
The SCO statement ``strongly condemned’’ the military strikes on Iran by Israel including on energy and transport infrastructure and ``which have resulted in civilian casualties, are a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. They constitute an infringement on Iran’s sovereignty, cause damage to regional and international security, and pose serious risks to global peace and stability. The SCO member states firmly advocate for the resolution of the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program exclusively through peaceful, political, and diplomatic means.
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The members extend their sincere condolences to the people and government of Iran. The SCO, strictly adhering to the principles and norms of the UN Charter and the SCO Charter, consider any unlawful actions directed against SCO member states unacceptable and reaffirms their unwavering commitment to strengthening international peace and security.
India said it has already issued a statement on the June 13 attacks, asking both sides to de-escalate. New Delhi’s position was conveyed to the members.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The SCO, initially called the Shanghai Five Group, was created in April 1996 in the city from which it derived its name. The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 and China's rising stakes in the newly independent Central Asian region led to the formation of the group. Russia, which had enormous clout in the region and did not want to lose its political influence, was also a founding member. The original five were China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. China, then headed by President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Boris Yeltsin, together with three Central Asian nations, signed a treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions. The Shanghai Five structure helped speed up the members' resolution of border disputes, and agreed on military cooperation.
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India and Pakistan were admitted in 2017 as full members. Russia pushed for New Delhi and China for Islamabad. Iran joined in 2023, and Belarus in 2024. It is now a nine-member grouping with: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan. Iran and Belarus. Many other countries are lining up for membership.
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