SHIKHAR Mains 2023 Day 39 Model Answer English

Updated : 7th Aug 2023

Q1: नाटो क्या है? इसके उद्देश्य और कार्यों की विस्तारपूर्वक चर्चा कीजिए।

What is NATO? What are the objectives and functions of it?

Approach-

Give a brief background of the formation of NATO.
Then provide Objective and Functions of the organization.

Answer-

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military organization based on the principle of collective defense, founded on 4 April 1949 in Washington by the 12 founding members. Its headquarter is in Brussels (Belgium). It currently consists of 30 member countries.

Objective of NATO-

NATO’s essential and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means.

Political objectives: NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defense and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
Military Objectives: NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.

These are carried out under the collective defence clause of NATO's founding treaty - Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations.
NATO has only once invoked Article 5, on September 12, 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US.

Functions of NATO-

Deterrence and Defence

To enhance the collective readiness, responsiveness, deployability, integration and interoperability of NATO forces.
The fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.

Crisis Prevention and Management

Ensure the resources, capabilities, training and command and control arrangements to deploy and sustain military and civilian crisis management, stabilisation and counter-terrorism operations, including at strategic distance

Develops capabilities and technologies to manage the crisis arising out of terrorist attacks, such as training military forces through non-combat missions and resolution support missions in Afghanistan, law enforcement, etc. On February 29, 2020, the US and the Taliban have signed "an agreement for peace" after a long-running conflict in Afghanistan.
The decision of the NATO Council launched a maritime security operation under the name "Sea Guardian" under Maritime Security in the Mediterranean sea, and NATO, at the request of the United Nations, launched international efforts to combat piracy in the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean.
NATO is working for disarmament, arms control and its non-proliferation, and strategic stability and collective security. Such as the formation of the African Standby Force (ASF) with the African Union, support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), etc.
A training mission was launched in 2018 to build capacity of security forces and defense and national defense academies in Iraq.
NATO is setting up Sky Police which is a purely defensive mission, which involves the constant presence of interceptors capable of responding quickly in the event of breaches and infections.
NATO works to enhance democratic values, solve problems of member countries and provide advice such as - Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, Crisis Management Exercise, KFOR (Kosovo Force) etc.

Q2: भारत के सामरिक हितों पर रूस-यूक्रेन युद्ध के प्रभावों और मौजूदा संकट पर भारत की प्रतिक्रिया पर चर्चा कीजिए।

Discuss the impacts of Russia-Ukraine war on India's strategic interests and India's response to the ongoing crisis. 12 marks

Approach:

In introduction, brifly provide the causes of Russia-Ukraine war.
Then explain the impacts of this war on India.
Further provide the response of India.
Conclude accordingly.

Answer:

The Russia - Ukraine war started from 20th February 2022. The present-day war traces its root to below three points, i.e.

Attempts by Ukraine to end cultural ties built with Russia,
Protect the autonomous existence of Ukraine, and
Growing influence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in erstwhile Soviet Union region with Ukraine as a major remaining territory between direct Russia-NATO faceoff.

Impacts on India due to Russia - Ukraine crisis

To maintain balance between Russia and US: India has good relations with both Russia and the US and siding with one of these countries could cost India its relationship with the other.

However, India has maintained its neutrality from distant conflict in Eastern Europe. Indian government has abstained from the procedure vote on Ukraine at the UN Security Council.

Brings Russia-China closer: Russia is already averse to the Indo-Pacific concept and the Quad as a revival of Cold War bloc politics and views them as being against its AsiaPacific interests. Any Ukraine conflict and a resulting breakdown of Russia-West ties will strengthen Russian opposition to these concepts and forums which are binding us to the US.
India’s Investment in Russia: India’s plans in Russia’s energy sector and in the development of its Far East policy, in general, would become problematic. This is due to the reluctance of the private sector to fall afoul of the complex US sanctions and exclusion of Russian banks from te SWIFT.
Arms Trade with Russia: Russia remains the major arms supplier of India.

As per SIPRI data, Russia contributed 46% of India’s total arms imports in 2017-21 (69% in 2012-16).

India’s Response

India abstained from voting in all resolutions in UN related to Russia - Ukraine war.
These principles work towards a safe and sustainable solution based on international norms and principles.
It does not vilify any side but provides humanitarian relief and assistance to people rather than arms to them.

For instance, India sent 90 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

It highlights strategic autonomy in times of a global upheaval and to reach a peaceful resolution through shared responsibility.

India has urged both parties to excercise imediate cessation of voilence and hostilities and return to the path of dialogue of and diplomacy.