US classified docs leaked through Discord indicate that emerging powers India, Pakistan, Brazil and Egypt are unwilling to take the US' side in Washington's standoff with China and Russia, US media reported on Sunday.
US No Longer 'Unchallenged Superpower'
In a global scheme of things in which the United States is no longer a sole hegemon, the Biden administration is finding it increasingly complicated to push through its global agenda.
Leaked documents prove that the US has been facing obstacles in its attempts to "punish" Russia for its special military operation in Ukraine, containing China's growing outreach in the Indo-Pacific and, of course, imposing liberal ideas on nations Washington has vigorously labeled as "authoritarian."
Despite the US' demise in the increasingly multipolar world appearing to be logical, rising economies have to calculate every step and diversify their foreign policy objectives.
The Case of Pakistan
Pakistan seems like a perfect example: according to the leaked papers, Pakistan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khan said that Islamabad could no longer afford to "maintain a middle ground" between Beijing and Washington in March.
Pakistan did receive immense financial backing from the United States following the 9/11 terror attacks. But now, when the country is facing a severe economic crisis, it is increasingly dependent on China for loans and investments to keep the troubled economy afloat.
Likewise, Pakistan has been negotiating oil supplies with Russia for some time: if India and China have benefited from buying Russian crude at a discounted price, why can't Pakistan follow suit?
Islamabad's abstention on a UN resolution condemning Moscow's special operation sends similar vibes: voting 'yes' would have hurt the relationship between Russia and Pakistan at a crucial time.
Note that Pakistan was among 32 nations that abstained in February in a clear sign that the whole world does not move in accordance with the US diktat.
India Vows Unwavering Support for Russia at Multilateral Venues
Regarding India, the leaked docs reportedly revealed that during Delhi Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s meet with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev in February, the Indian official assured him of “India’s support for Russia in multilateral venues.”
According to the Pentagon papers, India made sure that the Ukraine issue would not overshadow its G-20 agenda for developing nations. India's resistance to bow to western pressure over the UN resolution on Ukraine was underscored by Doval, who maintained that New Delhi would stick to its "principled' position on the conflict.
In one example, Delhi has been hesitant to invite Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to the G-20 summit in September -- despite Kiev's desperate attempts to get on the list.
Similarly, to much irritation of the US and its allies, Delhi has refused to break ties with its 'time-tested' partner of Russia: on the contrary, India, along with China, has boosted imports of Russian crude, breaking all-time records.
Diversifying ties goes along India's idea of 'reformed multilateralism', which provides inclusivity and represents the aspirations of the Global South without Western emphasis.