Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar has rejected western perception about India being “over-dependent” on Russia, adding that it was entirely up to New Delhi as to how much it wanted to depend on any nation.
Speaking at the Global Technology Summit co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi on Monday evening, Jaishankar stated that New Delhi's ties with Moscow hadn't been developed in a day or a month or an year for that matter.
Speaking at the Global Technology Summit co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi on Monday evening, Jaishankar stated that New Delhi's ties with Moscow hadn't been developed in a day or a month or an year for that matter.
"It is an accumulated relationship of close to 60 years. This relationship has saved us at times,” the Indian foreign minister underscored. "It is a relationship which happened because the direction of world politics during those 50-60 years actually helped forge that relationship."
He underlined that there was a "lot of history, weight and force" which have been the "defining aspect" of India-Russia ties.
The top Indian diplomat slammed the flawed perception prevalent in the West that having a strong relationship with Russia wasn't in New Delhi's interest.
"Often, I see the problem defined in a way as though someway there is a handicap which India has by having this relationship," the top Indian diplomat stated.
Since last year, New Delhi has outrightly rejected western pressure to scale down its "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" with Moscow. On the contrary, India has significvantly increased the scope of its economic partnership and Russia currently ranks as the top supplier of crude to New Delhi.
India-Russia Relations Make 'Sense'
Jaishankar told the conference that ties between New Delhi and Moscow made complete "sense" as far as geopolitics was concerned.
"You look at the Eurasian landmass. Just looking at the map, it would make sense that India and Russia would have strong relations. It is in accordance with the first principle of politics of your neighbour’s neighbour," he explained.
Jaishankar recalled that the current trajectory of strong India-Russia ties have also been shaped by events of the Cold War, a reference to New Delhi's criticism of US and its allies during the Cold War for allying with Pakistan.
"But, what had happened in the past was that we had ended up in a situation where our own options were constrained. In the last 30 years, these options have widened. In the last 10 years, these have widened even more. As you have more options, it is natural for a country to make the best of it," the foreign minister said.