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Jaishankar Defends India-Russia Ties, Slams Western Criticism at Munich Conference
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Moneycontrol•04-10-2026, 18:33
Jaishankar Defends India-Russia Ties, Slams Western Criticism at Munich Conference
- •External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar firmly defended India's strategic and economic ties with Moscow at the Munich Security Conference.
- •Jaishankar asserted that Indian foreign policy is guided by historical alliances and national interests, not Western geopolitical alignments.
- •He dismissed Western criticism regarding India's energy purchases and neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, stating India will not abandon a historically protective relationship.
- •Jaishankar rejected standard Western power classifications, calling India a "7,000-year-old civilizational power."
- •He positioned India as a pragmatic facilitator between Moscow and Kyiv to ensure global energy flows, supply chain stability, and maritime trade safety.
Key Questions Answered
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended New Delhi's enduring strategic and economic ties with Moscow at the Munich Security Conference, asserting that historical alliances and national interests govern Indian foreign policy rather than Western geopolitical alignments.
Jaishankar rejected standard Western power classifications and declared India a 7,000-year-old civilizational power that acts as a pragmatic facilitator between Moscow and Kyiv to secure global energy flows, supply chain stability, and maritime trade safety.
Jaishankar highlighted that Russia stood by India during past periods when the West backed a military regime, protecting Indian security and maintaining an enduring partnership.
