As European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg in which new set of sanctions on Iran are near certain to be announced, the United States Congress has passed a USD 61 Billion military assistance package which could buy air defence systems in addition to medium range missiles.
Both of the steps should be seen with worry by the rest of the world as it points to intent of the Western block to degrade and deteriorate the countries whom they see as rival or adversary.
Both Iran and Russia are some of the most sanctioned countries across the world. The global south needs to worry that a military superpower with United Nations Security Council seat and also a major oil and gas supplier can be elbowed out of the international community with such ease.
But this also forces the many other countries to limit or shut out trade with these major countries. It is clear that none of the steps being taken are going to bring about any peace in the region. On the contrary, many a smaller and medium sized economies are now forced to continue trade with the Western block and remain dependent forever.
For India, not being able to purchase affordable huge quantities of oil and gas from Iran or to connect with Russia for the development of whole Central Asian region, is a huge deficit. There is also the question of continued dependence on US dollar as a consequence. The fact that US is contemplating missile deployment in Philippines, being based in Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia and remaining deployed in West Asia should be seen as encircling of India as well.
US has made it clear that AUKUS alliance, where America and UK are to train Aussies in operating nuclear capable conventional submarines, could further be expanded to include South Korea, Japan.
For India, the situation is already critical as it has been encircled by China but the Western block is demanding total loyalty or else quality of its democracy will continue to be questioned. The continued demonising of India in Western media is not incidental as it can be weaponized at any time of choosing of the West.
India would need to remain careful or else it might be asked to do the heavy lifting world over should it become cornered enough.