Interests trump principles and values: India's neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war

This article contributes to the existing literature on India's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war by arguing and illustrating that India's failure to publicly criticize Russia and its abstention on resolutions condemning Russia for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in international forums highlights India's sovereignty paradox. India is a sovereignty hawk and its neutral position is contrary to the United Nations Charter, international law and its key foreign policy tenets of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country, non-aggression, non-interference in the domestic affairs of a country and peaceful co-existence. India has been willing to compromise on its principles because the Modi government believes that Russia can play an important role in aiding India to achieve great/leading power status because of the strategic convergence between the two countries regarding a multipolar world order and countering US hegemony, and Moscow enhancing India's security.