New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India for a bilateral summit highlighted New Delhi's dedication to strategic autonomy and its right to choose its foreign relations, stated External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Saturday. His comments were made against the backdrop of pressure from the US urging India to limit its purchases of Russian oil and defense equipment.

While addressing attendees at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi, EAM Jaishankar emphasized the importance of maintaining India’s vital partnerships as the nation continues to ascend on the global stage.

When asked about Putin’s visit and the future of Indo-Russian relations, he elaborated that India's foreign policy is centered on broad collaboration with various partners, ensuring adaptability and independence in its international dealings.

“For a nation like ours — large, emerging, and anticipated to play a more significant role — it is crucial that our core relationships are maintained positively. We foster good cooperation with as many stakeholders as possible, and that encapsulates what foreign policy entails,” he asserted.

Jaishankar underscored tangible results from Putin’s visit, such as a mobility agreement, a joint venture in fertilizers, and renewed efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation. He indicated that these initiatives signify steps toward expanding connections beyond conventional domains.

In response to whether closer ties with Moscow could jeopardize India’s ongoing trade discussions with Washington, Jaishankar refuted the notion.

“I disagree. It is well-known that India maintains relations with all major nations globally. For any country to assume it can veto or influence how we develop our international relations is unreasonable,” he stated, reinforcing that India values diverse partnerships and maintains the freedom to pursue them.

Discussing the evolution of India’s alliances, Jaishankar pointed out that relationships often develop unevenly. With the United States, economic ties flourished in the 1980s and 1990s, while defense collaboration advanced only after the civil nuclear agreement. In Europe, India has substantial economic and political relations, though these do not always extend into defense and security.

On Russia, he noted that both nations historically viewed the West and China as primary economic partners, which shaped their interaction trajectory. Nevertheless, he proposed that the current moment offers opportunities to recalibrate and expand cooperation. By framing Putin’s visit within India’s broader diplomatic context, Jaishankar portrayed New Delhi’s foreign policy as pragmatic, multi-aligned, and firmly rooted in strategic autonomy.