VOI World/ Desk
India’s approach to independent foreign policy was highlighted this week when Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian PM Modi in New Delhi for a bilateral summit. External affairs minister S Jaishankar said the engagement demonstrated India Russia strategic autonomy and reflected India’s freedom to make sovereign choices in global partnerships.
Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Jaishankar said India’s ties with Russia have remained among the steadiest relationships between major powers, despite wide geopolitical shifts over several decades. He noted that India’s decisions are based on its national interests and not on pressure from other countries, including concerns raised by the United States about imports of Russian oil and defence hardware.
The summit resulted in a five-year economic programme aimed at diversifying and balancing bilateral trade flows. Officials said the plan includes a mobility agreement, deeper energy cooperation and steps to widen industrial and technology partnerships. Jaishankar described the economic roadmap as a signal of long-term confidence between the two sides.
Asked whether the visit could complicate India’s relations with the United States, Jaishankar said India maintains transparent ties with all major partners and does not believe any country can exercise a veto over its external choices. He added that India has consistently articulated strategic autonomy as the basis of its foreign policy, and that approach will continue.
He also pointed out that India’s engagement with Russia stands alongside active partnerships with other countries, which reflect India’s effort to manage a complex global environment. The minister said the goal is to ensure stability, growth and pragmatic cooperation while preserving space for independent decision-making, a principle central to India Russia strategic autonomy.
Officials said further discussions on trade, energy and mobility are expected as the roadmap moves into implementation.
