Stability of international order under question: PM Modi at BIMSTEC summit

Prime Minister speaks about 'recent developments in Europe', doesn't name Russia for Ukraine crisis.

India has made regional cooperation its priority after "recent developments in Europe" put the stability of international order in question, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, referring to the war in Ukraine without naming Russia. 

Modi was speaking via video at a virtual summit of the BIMSTEC, a bloc comprising seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations. Sri Lanka is hosting a two-day meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to discuss economic cooperation. Besides India and Sri Lanka, BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

“The recent developments in Europe have raised questions about the stability of the international order. In this context, it has become a greater priority to have regional cooperation. Today we are adopting BIMSTEC charter to develop institution architecture for our group,” he said.

"With our region facing challenges of health and economic security, need of the hour is unity and cooperation. Today is the time to make Bay of Bengal bridge of connectivity, bridge of prosperity, bridge of security," he said.

India on Tuesday called for a “purposeful engagement” by Russia and Ukraine in their talks and called for de-escalation of tensions, marking its diplomatic strategy of not blaming Russia for the war. “India remains deeply concerned at the ongoing situation, which continues to deteriorate since the beginning of the hostilities,” India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said, according to PTI.

“We hope that an understanding could be reached soon. It is clearly in our collective interest to find a solution that can provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions aimed at securing long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond,” he said.

India has abstained from voting at the UN on resolutions related to the Ukraine war, avoiding to take sides either with the Western bloc or Russia.