India, South Africa, and Other Global Players Avoid Taking Sides on Russia’s Invasion
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to spark outrage globally, the response from the international community has been sharply divided. While 141 countries supported a United Nations motion condemning the invasion, 35 nations abstained, revealing significant ambivalence from key global players. Among those abstaining were traditional Russian allies such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and Vietnam, as well as major countries in South Asia and Africa.
India, which maintains strong military ties with Russia, including the recent purchase of the S-400 air defense system, has been notably cautious. Despite a growing strategic alignment with the United States, India’s immediate interests and domestic considerations have prompted it to avoid condemning Russia. Similarly, Pakistan and Bangladesh, both South Asian democracies, also chose not to take a stance, underscoring a regional reluctance to get involved.
In Africa, nations such as South Africa and Nigeria have distanced themselves from the conflict, with others like Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda also abstaining. A post-colonial wariness of Western motives and influence continues to shape these nations’ responses, as they refrain from taking sides in a conflict that has polarized the international community.
