External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended India’s ties with Russia, saying New Delhi’s foreign policy is guided by national interests. He pushed back against Western criticism regarding energy purchases. Jaishankar described India as a "7,000-year-old civilizational power" and stressed the country’s pragmatic role in protecting supply chains and vital maritime trade.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has firmly defended India's longstanding strategic and economic ties with Russia, saying New Delhi's foreign policy is guided by national interests and historical relationships rather than Western geopolitical alignments. Addressing European diplomats and media, Jaishankar pushed back against criticism of India's energy purchases and position on the Russia-Ukraine war. He described India as a "7,000-year-old civilizational power" and stressed New Delhi's pragmatic role in protecting energy flows, supply chains and maritime trade.