India abstained from voting on the UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, while the nation purchases military hardware from Moscow.
India did not vote in favour of the US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution in February that condemned Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. According to New Delhi, the only way to resolve differences and disagreements is through dialogue.
Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council and the president for the month of February, exercised its veto to prevent the resolution from passing.
At an annual speech to Singaporeans, Lee remarked in Mandarin. “India, China, Vietnam and Laos abstained from voting on the United Nations resolution deploring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine due to various considerations. India, for instance, buys military equipment from Russia,”
Since Singapore is the smallest country in ASEAN, its interests and priorities are inevitably distinct from those of other countries. When Singapore denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lee claimed that Singapore was not taking a side with either the US or Russia.
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, large or little, must be respected, he added, adding that Singapore must be firm in its position and vigorously defend fundamental ideals.
Lee cited Singapore’s voting against the US in 1983 when the Americans invaded Grenada and Singapore’s opposition to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1978 as examples of how Singapore has constantly fought the idea that “might is right.”. As a result of strained ties between the US and China’s Asian allies, including Australia and Japan, security in the Asia-Pacific has also been impacted.
According to Lee, Singapore would make an effort to stay out of the power struggle.
He asserted that the city state must adhere to the fundamental tenets of international law and cooperate with other nations to uphold a rules-based order. One way to do this is by speaking out at the United Nations.
