A New India
Chapter 218 - 218: Reaction across the World

The world was shocked as the news broke. The United Kingdom had bombed Indian troops in Egypt, escalating an already volatile situation into an international crisis.

The headlines blared across continents: "India Declares War on the United Kingdom," accompanied by images of fiery speech by Rohan and bodies of Indian solider who were killed by that bombing.

A very classic move by India in which they used the visual photos of those bombing to build a narrative against UK.

Governments scrambled to understand the implications, while the United Nations, already struggling to contain the Suez Crisis, now faced a conflict far larger than anyone had anticipated.

Ever since its inception UN has faced many crisis but most of them have limited themselves to a region but this one has the possibility to overcome that.

Inside the United Nations headquarters in New York, diplomats packed the General Assembly hall.

The tension was very high as representatives from every corner of the globe prepared for what would undoubtedly be one of the most consequential sessions in modern history.

India's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Menon, stood with his delegation, his face calm but resolute.

Across the room, the British delegation, led by Sir Harold Cartwright, appeared visibly strained.

Whispers circulated among diplomats as accusations flew like arrows in hushed tones.

"The British have gone too far," whispered Pierre Brunet, the French representative to his American counterpart, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.. "Bombing Indian troops? It's indefensible. India was neutral."

Even though France is attacking Egypt along with UK and Israel but neither of them expected such a military blunder by United Kingdom.

Forcing a Nucelar power to enter a war.

Cabot Lodge sighed, his face tired. "It's a disaster for us all. Rohan's speech has gave the world a shared sentiment and giref where they can feel the death of those solfier. Every newly independent nation is now looking to India as a leader against imperialism."

Thier discussion was cut off as the gavel struck, silencing the murmurs as the UN Secretary-General, began the session.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the attack on Indian forces in Egypt, followed by India's declaration of war against the United Kingdom, has brought the world to a war nobody wants to fight. This Assembly convenes under extraordinary circumstances to address this grave escalation."

Menon rose, his voice calm but cutting. "The world has witnessed the United Kingdom's reckless aggression. First, they vetoed the resolution to de-escalate the Suez Crisis. Then, they bombed neutral Indian troops engaged in peacekeeping efforts in Egypt. Make no mistake, this was not an accident. It was a deliberate act of imperial arrogance."

His words sent ripples through the room. Representatives from African and Asian nations nodded in agreement, their faces grim.

"The Prime Minister of India, Rohan, has made it clear: we will not stand idly by as our soldiers are killed on foreign soil by those who still cling to the remnants of their colonial empires," Rao continued. "This war was not of our choosing, but we will meet it with the full force of our resolve."

Sir Harold Cartwright stood, adjusting his tie. His voice carried a touch of calmness, but the tension beneath that time was unmistakable.

"The United Kingdom deeply regrets the loss of Indian lives," he began. "However, let us be clear our actions in Egypt are not acts of aggression, but measures to stabilize a vital international waterway. India's sudden declaration of war is disproportionate and escalates an already fraught situation."

"Stabilize?" Rao shot back. "You stabilized a convoy of medical supplies and soldiers by bombing it into oblivion? You stabilized Egypt by attacking a sovereign nation's troops who were providing support? The world is not fooled by your euphemisms, Sir Harold."

Cabot Lodge leaned over to whisper to Andrei Gromyko, the Soviet representative. "The British are losing the narrative. Rohan's speech has put them on the defensive."

Gromyko smirked. "Good. Let them squirm. This is the perfect opportunity for the USSR to gain more allies in the newly independent country"

Cabot looked at Gromyko with a expression that clearly said 'Are you serious!!!!'.

---

In Washington, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sat with his senior advisors in the Oval Office.

The room was full of discussion and concern as they read over the reports from the Suez region.

"This is going out of control," Eisenhower said, his tone sharp. "The UK bombing Indian troops? Rohan declaring war? This isn't just about the canal anymore, it's about the balance of power across the entire post-colonial world."

Secretary of State John Foster Dulles nodded gravely. "India's entrance into the war has created a stand, a stand so powerful that soon other countries will adopt it. As a result Countries that were previously neutral are now aligning themselves with India. The British and French look like colonial aggressors, and we're being lumped in with them because of NATO."

Eisenhower slammed his fist on the table. "I warned Eden to stand down! Now we're looking at a global crisis that could bring the Soviets into the mix."

Dulles interjected, "We need to distance ourselves, Mr. President. Publicly condemn the attack on Indian troops, reaffirm our commitment to peace, and pressure the British to de-escalate."

"And if they don't?" Eisenhower asked, his tone hard.

Dulles hesitated. "Then we reconsider the special relationship."

------

In Moscow, Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin and First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev convened with their top advisors.

The mood was triumphant.

"This is a gift," Khrushchev declared, slamming his hand on the table for emphasis. "The British have handed us the perfect opportunity to expand our influence. India has declared war, they've chosen their side. Now we must show them the USSR is their strongest ally."

Bulganin nodded. "What do you propose?"

"We send arms, advisors, and supplies to both India and Egypt," Khrushchev said. "Let the British feel the full weight of resistance. And let the Americans watch as their so-called allies crumble under the weight of their own arrogance."

-----

In London, Prime Minister Anthony Eden faced his own crisis.

His cabinet was divided, his international standing in shambles, and now, India a Commonwealth nation had declared war.

Eden sat at the head of the table, flanked by Selwyn Lloyd, the Foreign Secretary, and General Charles Keightley, commander of the Suez operation.

"This is a disaster," Eden said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We've turned a regional conflict into a global firestorm."

Lloyd leaned forward, his tone urgent. "Prime Minister, we must rethink our strategy. India's entry into the war has shifted the narrative completely. We're being painted as aggressors, and the Commonwealth is fracturing."

"And if we pull out?" Eden asked bitterly.

Keightley interjected, his voice firm. "Then we admit defeat. The canal falls entirely into Nasser's hands, and British prestige collapses. We'll lose not just Egypt but our influence in the Middle East."

Eden rubbed his temples. "And if we press on?"

"Then we risk total war," Lloyd replied. "India's forces are significant. They've already mobilized troops in Egypt. And with Soviet backing, this could escalate beyond anything we can control."

Eden leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Damn it all. We're trapped."

----

In Egypt, President Gamal Abdel Nasser addressed a crowd of thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

His voice, amplified by loudspeakers, echoed across the city.

"Today, we fight not alone but with the support of a powerful ally! India has joined us in our struggle against imperialism. Their Prime Minister, Rohan, has shown the world that the era of colonial dominance is over. Together, we will show the British and French that they cannot dictate the future of sovereign nations."

The crowd roared its approval, waving Egyptian and Indian flags side by side.

----

In India, the reaction to Rohan's declaration of war was one of unified determination.

Crowds gathered in the streets, chanting slogans and waving flags.

Factories shifted to wartime production, and young men lined up at recruitment centers to join the armed forces.

At a small tea shop in Delhi, an elderly man sipped his chai as he listened to the radio. "It's about time," he said to no one in particular. "The British thought they could bully us forever. Now they'll see."

-----

In Jakarta, Nairobi, and Belgrade, the leaders held urgent meetings.

The consensus was clear: India's stand against the United Kingdom was a defining moment for the post-colonial world.

In a statement, Indonesian President Sukarno declared, "India's courage in standing up to imperialism inspires us all. We must unite to ensure that the colonial powers understand their time is over."

----

By the end of the UN session, a resolution was proposed condemning the attack on Indian troops and calling for an immediate ceasefire.

The Soviet Union and the United States, despite their tensions, supported the resolution.

Sir Harold Cartwright protested vehemently. "The United Kingdom cannot support a resolution that undermines its efforts to maintain international stability."

Menon retorted, "Stability? You mean colonial dominance. The world sees through your lies."

The resolution passed overwhelmingly, with only the UK, France, and a few of their allies voting against it.

Interestingly no one used Veto.