QUAD Acceptance: The Australian envoy to India stated on Sunday that there is no cause to be displeased with India’s stance on the Ukraine situation. High Commissioner Barry O’Farrel, speaking to the media today, praised India’s efforts in this area and stated that Canberra hopes to complete the early harvest trade arrangement by the end of March.
Quad understands the bilateral relationship
“[The] Quad countries have accepted India’s position; each country has a bilateral relationship, and it’s clear from the Ministry of External Affairs and Prime Minister’s comments that he has used his contacts to call for an end to the conflict, and no country will be unhappy with that,” Mr. O’Farrel said.
The Australian diplomat’s remarks set the tone for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison’s virtual summit, which is expected to focus on Australia’s concerns over Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
Senior Russian officials involved in the military campaign against Ukraine have been subjected to a slew of penalties by Australia. Canberra has also promised to sanction people who promote media narratives that back Russia’s allegations about Ukraine’s “de-Nazification.”
In contrast to Australia’s hostile stance, India has seized the opportunity to develop energy connections with Russia. India’s oil companies have placed huge orders for crude that Moscow is offering at a ‘discount.’
This drive to secure energy from Russia has made India an outlier in the Indo–Pacific Quadrilateral Alliance, where the other countries — the United States, Japan, and Australia — have imposed sanctions on Russia.
Despite the differences in India’s approach, Canberra will use the Modi–Morrison meeting to encourage India to strengthen coordination with other members of the Quad on Ukraine.
However, it has been learned that Australia will continue to back India’s search for long-term energy security and that the two countries may explore collaborative initiatives to get precious minerals such as lithium from Australian mines.
Mr. O’Farrel further stated that the trade dialogue between Indian and Australian authorities has been ongoing since the Trade Ministers — Piyush Goyal and Dan Tehan — initiated it in February.
Mr. O’Farrel stated, “We are hopeful of signing the phase–1 — early harvest – trade arrangement before the end of this month.” The early harvest trade agreement is likely to focus on commodities trade, with the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, or CECA, following. Since 2011, India and Australia have been discussing CECA, but this is the first time they have reached an agreement on an early harvest trade arrangement.