US President Donald Trump had earlier in the month invited India and Russia to the next G7 summit. (Reuters ph…Read More
While Russia sees itself as an “honest broker” for dialogue and peaceful resolution of international disputes, Moscow won’t interfere in the Sino-Indian military standoff as it’s a bilateral dispute, said top Russian Parliamentarian and chief of Federation Council (upper house of Parliament) international affairs committee Konstantin Kosachev.
The Russian lawmaker also said Moscow wasn’t enthusiastic about US President Donald Trump‘s invite to 4 countries, including Russia and India, for G-7 as it didn’t want to join any bloc or alliance against China.
Outlining Russia’s position on the LAC situation, Kosachev told Indian journalists that Russia respected the sovereignty of both India and China. He described Russia’s own ties with China as “in best shape ever” because of the “anti-Russia campaign” by the West.
The day PM Narendra Modi had discussed the border situation with President Donald Trump last week, foreign secretary Harsh Shringla also briefed Russian ambassador Nikolay Kudashev on the issue in a “working meeting”. India remains against any form of mediation and had earlier declined an offer by Trump to mediate.
“Russia should not interfere in this type of dispute but overall…when required…in other situation…our mission is to be an honest broker to contribute to a dialogue and work for a solution which doesn’t involve force,” said Kosachev, adding
On Trump’s G7 invite though, India and Russia have divergent views. While India was quick to accept the invite, extended to Modi by the US president, Russia has continued to raise questions saying that it was meant to isolate China.
In a video conference with Indian journalists, Kosachev said there was no opportunity for the 4 countries invited – Russia, India, South Korea and Australia – to influence the outcome or decisions of the summit. Countries like Canada and UK have also strongly opposed Trump’s proposal for return of Russia to G-7.
“There are many countries which are influential and strong and which can participate in the discussions. China is a clear example. I suspect choosing India and Russia and not inviting China is concentrated on the second part – not inviting China,” he said.
“Trump wants to get a number of countries together for some form of joint opposition to China…that’s the current strategy of the Americans. I am absolutely against building any bloc or coalition aimed against a third country,” he added.
Kosachev said Trump didn’t have the mandate to expand the G-7 in any case and that he just represented a country which was going to host the next summit.
“He’s free to invite any country but it will still be the summit of 7 countries. This is what raises questions. In that format, none f the 4 countries invited will be able to participate in the preparatory work. There will be resolutions and documents and that is going to be done by the same seven countries,” he said.
