India has become the third-highest military spender globally. As a rising economic giant, it was only inevitable that it would boost its military powers, but is it prioritizing what is genuinely essential right now with the World going through a pandemic?
Covid 19 has had devastating long-term effects on the World. These effects have been most visible in countries with densely populated areas. With the World’s 2nd highest population, India has been one of the worst affected, especially in recent months.
With the 2nd highest cases and 3rd highest deaths globally, the perils they currently face are clear. But is it the population that is the leading cause behind it, or is the travesty it’s own making by prioritizing the wrong things?
India in 2020 was the 3rd leading military spender contributing 3.7% to the total global expenditure, with the US at first with 39%, followed by China at 13%, according to a report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
According to retired Indian Navy Captain D.K. Sharma “India has a collusive threat from China and Pakistan.” He also further added that “The threats are expansionism from China and terrorism from Pakistan. The Indian Army is tied down by the two neighbors, which has led to heavy military expenditure. India needs the heavy expenditure for security.”
India and Pakistan have a long history of conflict, having fought a total of 4 wars against each other. Other than that, India also alleges Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism across the border, which must be defended against.
On the other side China, the economic giant, is the primary rival India has its eyes towards. “India should not make a benchmark with Pakistan for comparison. Instead, the comparison should do it with China,” said Sharma. He said this to justify India’s overwhelming military budget.
India and China have had plenty of conflicts of their own, including an all-out war in 1962 where India was openly humbled. Even recently, both sides clashed in the Galwan Valley, Ladakh, indicating that there is no potential for friendly relations anytime soon.
All this to justify prioritizing defending its borders instead of spending on healthcare that could have saved India from the Covid 19 disaster. Its hospitals ran out of space, and the country ran out of oxygen cylinders so critically needed by its Covid patients.
Read More: COVID-19 cannot stop taking lives of Indians
Most importantly, did India have to make enemies where it could have made friends? Its rivalry with China is primarily over the hegemony of the region, which they both see themselves as contenders for.
Since Pakistan has seen significant investments from China through CPEC, it becomes part of the regional tussle India seems so inclined to win. It even joined hands with the US, the global rival of China, which is evident through the signing of deals such as BECA.
Could India have looked towards making allies in the region rather than looking for them on the other side of the World? Is the race to the top worth sacrificing so much? Maybe it is a divine irony that the country they spend so much to compete with is the very country the virus originated in, causing their downfall.