Want to see India overtake China: Former Australian PM
Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Secretary of State Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a role in persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin not to use tactical nuclear weapons in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Bartoszewski acknowledged PM Modi’s efforts, highlighting India’s role as a key mediator in global peace efforts.
Bartoszewski stated that Putin had “threatened” to use tactical nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory, but calls from India and China influenced his decision to reconsider, according to ANI.
“President Putin was threatening to use tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine. The Americans sent lots of messages for him to not think about it… That didn’t necessarily persuade him at first. He received two phone calls- one from the President of China, Xi Jinping, and one from PM Modi, telling him that neither China nor India independently approve of the war. When two major nations which Russia consider to be friendly said don’t do it. He decided that it is not a good idea so PM Narendra Modi played a role in it,” Bartoszewski said.
Talking to media, Bartoszewski also emphasised that India’s relationship with Russia continues to thrive, with President Putin describing it as specially privileged. He recalled PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine during the ongoing war, stating that this visit further reinforced India’s neutral stance and commitment to peace.
He further noted that during India’s G20 presidency, the Russia-Ukraine conflict threatened to derail consensus on the final communiqué. He added that through strategic negotiations, India successfully led member nations to a consensus, solidifying its diplomatic prowess on the global stage.
Bartoszewski also praised India’s multiple successful evacuation and humanitarian aid missions.
Meanwhile, former Australian PM Tony Abbott too hailed PM Modi’s leadership and the country’s rise over the last decade. He said that he would like to see India overtake China as a critical supplies chain leader and also as one of the “real leaders” of the free world.
Abbott and Bartoszewski are in India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue 2025.
“I hope that my presence here will contribute to the steady strengthening of relations between Australia and India. They have always been good but, in the past, perhaps underdeveloped. I hope they develop very strongly in the coming years and decades,” the former Australian PM told IANS. “My hope is two-fold. First is that India can take the place of China in the democracy’s critical supply chains. And, second is that, over time, India can become one of the real leaders of the free world because as a country which has demonstrated an absolute commitment to the democracy and rule of law, I think that India can, and should, stand with its fellow democracies against the dictatorships which are currently challenging the freedom everywhere,” he stated.