19 July 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. India and a case for strategic autonomy

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations

Context

In July 2024, India’s Prime Minister visited Russia amid ongoing Western concerns over India’s strategic autonomy and relationship with Russia. The U.S. expressed dissatisfaction, highlighting tensions in India-U.S. relations due to India’s neutral stance on the Ukraine war and deepening ties with Moscow, challenging traditional alliances.

Introduction:

• On July 11, 2024, two days after the Indian Prime Minister concluded his visit to Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States Ambassador to India made a significant statement about strategic autonomy during crises.
• During the Prime Minister’s visit, coinciding with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington, the United States administration publicly expressed concerns about the visit.
• The United States National Security Adviser added to the debate by suggesting that relying on Russia as a long-term partner is not advisable, pointing out Russia’s alignment with China over India.
• Reports indicated that United States officials had requested India to postpone the Prime Minister’s Moscow visit, but India proceeded, causing “disturbance” in the US administration.

Stress Points and Historical Overview:

• The strategic partnership between India and the United States remains steady, but recent years have seen stress points, particularly regarding India’s stance on Russia amid the Ukraine war.
• While the United States and its allies imposed economic sanctions on Russia and supported Ukraine, India maintained its strategic partnership with Moscow, expanded energy cooperation, and refrained from condemning the invasion.
• India’s neutral position, calling for an end to the war and respect for territorial sovereignty, was perceived in the West as economic support for Russia, causing friction in India-United States relations.
• The recent comments by United States officials highlighted these persistent stress points.

Concept of Strategic Autonomy:

• Strategic autonomy implies a nation’s ability to make decisions serving its national interests independently of external pressures.
• This concept involves the conviction that a nation can take decisions serving its interests and the will and resources to act autonomously despite high pressure.
• If India cannot make independent foreign policy decisions during crises, it is not exercising strategic autonomy.

India’s Historical Approach to Strategic Autonomy:

• Since independence, Indian governments have pursued strategic autonomy under various names such as non-alignment, multi-alignment, or multi-directional foreign policy.
• This approach was not dogmatic but aimed at serving national interests in a complex international system.
• Initially, India’s foreign policy, characterised by non-alignment and Asian solidarity, helped mobilise voices in the Third World and maintain independence from both the capitalist and communist blocs.
• Over time, India built stronger ties with the Soviet Union without forfeiting strategic autonomy and later integrated more closely with the global economy and the West after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Current Global Dynamics and India’s Position:

• The global order is again changing, with the United States remaining the most powerful country but the world no longer being unipolar.
• China is emerging as a strong competitor to the United States, and Russia is challenging the Western security architecture in Europe.
• India aims to balance relationships with major powers without joining any alliance system, maintaining its strategic autonomy as essential.
• The relationship with Russia is a key aspect of this strategy. India’s energy ties with Russia are driven by economic opportunism, but the defence partnership is structural, with Russia being a major source of India’s defence imports.
• This relationship cannot be undone overnight, and Russia remains a critical partner in continental Asia for economic progress, connectivity, and security challenges.

Impact of Russia-China Relations:

• Russia’s deepening ties with China alter the essence of the historical India-Russia partnership but also offer an opportunity to recast it as a more equal bilateral relationship.
• India would not like Russia, isolated from the West, to fully embrace China, and Russia prefers having multiple strategic options.
• If India were part of an alliance system, it would lack the strategic space to maintain its partnership with Russia while also being close to the West.

Positive-Sum Game in Foreign Policy:

• The United States need not view India’s independent foreign policy as unfriendly. India supports a multilateral global order, seeking a system that reflects current geopolitical realities.
• The world is economically multipolar, but power dynamics have not transitioned similarly. India wants to ensure its voice and that of the Global South are heard.
• Strategic autonomy for India means greater engagement with different power centres, rooted in informed national interest.
• Foreign policy is seen as a positive-sum game where all parties can benefit. For instance, India’s energy trade with Russia helped stabilize global oil prices.
• India’s cooperation with Russia can moderate Russia’s relationship with China, which the West views as a major revisionist power.

Unipolar Mentality and Its Limitations:

• Western partners, particularly the United States, agitated by India’s Russia ties and emphasis on strategic autonomy, do not appreciate the broader context.
• The unipolar mentality of “either with us or against us” is outdated and ineffective in a multipolar world.
• This approach was not successful even during the unipolar era, as evidenced by the two-decade-long war on terror.
• In a post-unipolar world, such a rigid stance is even less likely to succeed.

Conclusion:

• India’s strategic autonomy is crucial for navigating the complex and changing global order.
• While maintaining partnerships with major powers, India seeks to ensure its foreign policy serves its national interests independently.
• The recent tensions with the United States over India’s Russia policy underscore the challenges and importance of strategic autonomy.
• A nuanced approach, recognizing the multipolar nature of the current global system, is essential for effective international relations.

Practice Question:  Discuss the implications of India’s strategic autonomy on its foreign policy, especially in the context of its relationship with Russia and the United States. (250 Words /15 marks)

2. The issue with tree planting schemes

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS3 – Environment –  Environmental pollution and degradation

Context

The uncontrolled exploitation of forest resources has led to significant degradation of forest landscapes worldwide. In response, the United Nations declared 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, aiming to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land and enhance global efforts in forest conservation and biodiversity through initiatives like mass tree planting.

Introduction

• The exploitation of forest resources due to uncontrolled and unsustainable practices has degraded forest landscapes.
• The World Bank estimates that the world has lost about 10 million square kilometers of forests since the start of the 20th century.
• The emphasis on forest restoration approaches led to the United Nations declaring 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
• This initiative targets the restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded land to generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services and sequester an additional 13 gigatons to 26 gigatons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Importance of Tree Planting

• Tree planting is a proven method to support and sustain biodiversity and address climate-related crises and environmental challenges.
• It includes biological carbon sequestration, a mechanism to store and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Mass-scale tree planting is seen as a potential solution to tackle climate change globally, endorsed by both governmental and non-governmental organisations.
• Recognizing the role of trees in maintaining ecological balance, India launched the Van Mahotsava (‘festival of trees’) program in July 1950.
• India has celebrated this tree planting program annually in the first week of July, which has successfully motivated people and improved forest areas.

Recent Tree Planting Drives

• In recent years, there has been an increase in tree planting drives by various agencies, including governments, which is a positive sign for environmental conservation.
• These drives have catchy slogans and headline-grabbing campaigns, attracting media attention and involving people and organisations.
• Notable global tree planting initiatives include the “One Trillion Project” of the World Economic Forum, the “Great Green Wall of China,” the “10 Billion Tree Tsunami” of Pakistan, and the “Bonn Challenge” to restore 350 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes by 2030.

Criticisms of Mass Planting Drives

• Mass tree planting drives have faced criticism for limited community participation, inadequate post-planting measures, and promoting monoculture.
• These issues make the drives less effective for carbon sequestration and biodiversity development.
• Environmentalists and scientists are concerned about the neglect of ecology and locality and the lack of involvement of people in tree planting programs.
• Studies have found that tree planting in certain locations, such as grasslands, can destroy plant and animal habitats, damage ecosystems, increase wildfire intensity, and exacerbate global warming.

Post-Planting Measures and Alternative Approaches

• Planting saplings alone does not meet expectations without adequate post-planting measures and monitoring of tree growth.
• Many tree-planting drives, especially those not supported by the government, lack these provisions.
• Contrary to popular belief, tree planting is not always a cost-effective climate solution compared to other approaches such as restoration and tree islands, which involve planting in small patches or islands.

India’s Challenges

• India faces several challenges in its tree planting and forest restoration initiatives.
• Nearly 10 million hectares of its forests are under encroachment, and about 27.5 crore people depend on forests for subsistence.
• India has lost nearly 5.7 million hectares of forest land for non-forestry purposes since Independence.
• These challenges hinder India’s goal to restore 26 million hectares of degraded forests by 2030 and improve forest cover through tree planting.

Policy Changes and Future Strategies

• India has implemented remarkable policy changes to tackle forestry challenges and restoration approaches.
• Despite these efforts, inherent problems continue to affect these initiatives.
• Mass planting drives need to be re-evaluated to give priority to adequate finances, active community participation, and technical considerations.
• Along with public awareness campaigns, social media, and incentivized community participation, reoriented strategies can bring changes to forest ecosystems.
• These changes can help create resilient forests with diverse capacities and capabilities, contributing to the ecological balance and environmental sustainability.

PYQ: Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change. (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2020)

Practice Question:  Discuss the significance of the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) in addressing the challenges of forest degradation and biodiversity loss. How can tree planting initiatives contribute to this goal, and what are the potential pitfalls of these initiatives? (250 Words /15 marks)