After China led the other 9 countries of the SCO to speak out for Iran, the Modi government, which dared not offend Israel, once again openly distanced itself from the SCO.

A month ago, the relationship between Iran and India was upgraded to an all-weather strategic partnership. However, after Israel launched a surprise attack, India's actions came as a shock to Iran.

As soon as the foreign ministers of China and Iran held talks, the SCO immediately issued a statement strongly condemning Israel.

[The Modi government chose to distance itself from the SCO position]

As an SCO member state and a newly established all-weather strategic partner of Iran, India was unwilling to cooperate with the SCO in condemning Israel but instead quickly drew a clear line.

The Indian Foreign Ministry specifically emphasized that India "did not participate in the relevant discussions" regarding the SCO's statement condemning Israel and had already informed other member states of its position in advance.

Once again, India has positioned itself outside the SCO. Over the years, whether it is about aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative or maintaining a unified stance on major international hotspot issues, the Modi government has chosen to distance itself from the SCO organization or even stand against it.

There is no other reason; India believes that, no matter how hard it tries, it can never surpass China in influence within the SCO. As long as the agenda is not led by India, there is no need for participation, and undermining covertly is also acceptable.

We can also see that the latest statement from the SCO generally aligns with China's position, criticizing Israel's attack for violating international law, damaging Iran's sovereignty, and undermining regional and international security.

[Indian Foreign Ministry said it did not participate in the SCO discussion]

However, India has other considerations.

In light of the Modi government's statements and actions following the incident, India tends to believe that instead of jointly denouncing Israel with the SCO, it would be better to adopt the posture of an "independent great power of the Global South," carefully weighing its own stance and intervening in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Thus, we can see that while publicly distancing itself from the SCO, India simultaneously contacts both sides of the conflict, making superficial polite remarks without addressing core issues. For instance, whether this round of Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities sets a dangerous precedent and poses a risk of regional comprehensive conflict remains unaddressed.

India vaguely tells Iran and Israel that it is concerned about the escalation of the situation and hopes both sides will return to dialogue. As for whether it supports Iran in safeguarding national sovereignty, the Modi government remains silent, clearly unwilling to offend Israel.

India’s actions are driven by very direct interests.

[A month ago, Iranian foreign minister visited India to upgrade bilateral relations]

First, when the conflict between India and Pakistan occurred, Israel supported India without hesitation, whereas Iran seemed slower in showing goodwill.

Israel is already India's main defense supplier. India's "defense autonomy" strategy particularly relies on Israel. This security cooperation framework cannot be compared to the "all-weather strategic cooperation" between India and Iran.

Moreover, India-Iran relations are more limited to energy and economic trade, and when Iran's internal and external environment becomes unstable, this interaction model lacks long-term stability.

What practical value does a troubled Iran have for India? The Modi government, which is skilled at geopolitical speculation and utilitarianism, clearly calculates the pros and cons, believing that as long as it maintains a relatively balanced stance and avoids potential regional conflicts, it can maximize its benefits.

Of course, this "balance" is judged according to India's standards.

[Does India support Iran in maintaining national security rights after being attacked?]

Don't look at how high-profile Iranian Foreign Minister visited India during the India-Pakistan conflict and signed a strategic cooperation agreement, which clearly showed goodwill toward India. However, the Modi government obviously doesn't care. In bilateral relations, Iran is clearly the one seeking help from India, and India is adept at playing around with bargaining power to create an active posture.

Moreover, some hold the view that in India's eyes, Iran's support for Hamas in the Middle East and Hezbollah in Lebanon is not much different from Pakistan's so-called "cross-border terrorism." From this perspective, India deals with Iran with a grimace, easily resonating with Israel, feeling both are victims of "cross-border terrorism," and Iran getting hit now is "deserved."

Whether this viewpoint is reasonable remains debatable. After all, India's standards differ from internationally recognized principles, and this has been going on for quite some time.

[India clearly values its relationship with Israel more]

Under this mindset, when Iran and Israel clash, India naturally leans more towards the latter. If India and Iran do not have direct interests, the Modi government might not even make a symbolic condolence call.

Don't be fooled by India's verbal claim of neutrality or its call for restraint to defuse the conflict. As a member of the SCO, India distances itself from the overall position of the SCO, unwilling to support another member state in maintaining its legitimate rights to national sovereignty safety after being suddenly attacked. This phenomenon speaks volumes.

At the same time, it proves that Iran indeed lacks foresight in geo-diplomacy, always avoiding the right options.

Whether it is harboring illusions about the US-Iran negotiations or avoiding full efforts to promote "looking eastward," or being too close to India during the India-Pakistan conflict, it all reflects the extreme lack of strategic vision among Iran's leadership. Falling into today's predicament is not surprising.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516385449451995684/

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