India has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strategic autonomy in its foreign policy, despite recent comments from the US Ambassador. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to remarks made by Ambassador Eric Garcetti, emphasizing that while both nations share a strong partnership, they may have differing views on certain issues.
During a recent press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India’s strategic autonomy is a key value for the country. He acknowledged that while the US Ambassador has his own opinions, India maintains its own stance on international matters. Jaiswal highlighted that the comprehensive global strategic partnership between India and the US allows for “agreeing to disagree” on some issues while still respecting each other’s viewpoints.
Ambassador Garcetti’s comments, made at a public event last week, questioned the concept of strategic autonomy in times of conflict. He suggested that during crises, countries need to be more than just strategic partners; they must be trusted allies. Garcetti’s remarks came shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia.
In his visit to Moscow, Prime Minister Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders discussed plans to boost trade between their countries and eliminate trade barriers. They also explored the possibility of creating a Free Trade Area between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India.
In addition, Modi and Putin agreed to work on a bilateral settlement system using their national currencies and to introduce digital financial instruments for mutual transactions.
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The MEA emphasized that India and the US have a broad and strategic partnership. They engage in discussions on a range of topics and address issues of mutual interest. However, Jaiswal pointed out that the details of these diplomatic conversations are not typically shared publicly.
The ongoing dialogue between the two countries demonstrates their commitment to maintaining a strong and respectful relationship, even when they may have different perspectives.
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