The debate in India over the conflict in West Asia centres on the meaning and application of strategic autonomy. There is a view that the government’s approach, marked by silence and expediency, has effectively equated strategic autonomy with the absence of a moral or ethical stance. Historically, India has never interpreted strategic autonomy as synonymous with silence or strict neutrality. Can anyone seriously claim that halting oil purchases from Iran and Venezuela protected India’s strategic autonomy? Tharoor bases his argument on the premise that strategic autonomy means pursuing national interests without being burdened by moral, ethical, historical or civilisational considerations (‘India’s silence on West Asia war is not moral surrender.

Source: Indian Express March 25, 2026 12:38 UTC