This quote has been misappropriated in commentary/coverage. It was not a moral argument but in fact an interest-based response to the question of how India could expect support in a future border crisis with China after not condemning or sanctioning Russia.

https://twitter.com/spignal/status/1647614745627836416

Jaishankar's response: (1) India-China border issue long predates Ukraine invasion. (2) Europe has been silent on many issues re:Asia. (3) India can deal with China with or without global support. (4) support for India v China will not be predicated on India's position on Russia.

My book, Ascending Order, is now available in electronic and print formats, via @CUP_PoliSci. A thread here on the book, for anyone interested in rising powers, international order, hierarchy, global governance, and status in world politics. In it, I expand the chronological & analytical frames we use on rising powers, which are typically studied as rising *great* powers on the verge of causing trouble with established great powers. Unsurprisingly, most research on power shifts focuses on conflict as primary outcome.

Further points on India-Russia-Quad:
1. Arms sales are a two-way street. Buyers have leverage too, and as one of the world's largest importers, this applies to India viz. all suppliers, Russian & Western. 2. A robust arms relationship can enable a willing buyer to use or bank on that influence with the seller. If the buyer demurs, one has to look for causes other than the supposed constraints of arms dependence.

Respectfully disagree. A mistake to assume an obv preference thwarted by dependence, or that India feels much ownership over a Western-led order & its principles. Policymakers in partner countries familiar w/India know this (other political actors may not). 1/

https://twitter.com/PaliwalAvi/status/1497701979363155975

India's dependence on Russian arms itself has been declining since 2012 and will accelerate if current sanctions stay for long, damaging Russian manufacturing. But I'd wager that India's vote would not have been different even at low import levels. 2/