Source NDTV
New Delhi — As diplomatic buzz reverberates after Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India, S. Jaishankar — India’s External Affairs Minister — has underscored New Delhi’s “freedom of choice” in forging international ties, making it crystal-clear that no foreign power has the right to dictate who India befriends.
Addressing the question of whether Putin’s visit might irk United States or complicate negotiations with Washington, Jaishankar rejected the notion outright: “For any country to expect to have a veto or a say in how we develop our relationships with others is not a reasonable proposition.”
He elaborated at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025 that India has “multiple relationships” and emphasised the doctrine of “strategic autonomy,” which allows New Delhi to engage with a variety of global powers without subservience.
Jaishankar also reiterated that the recent visit from Putin — the first by the Russian president to India since the conflict in Ukraine — was aimed not at sending messages to Washington or other western capitals, but at “reimagining” long-standing India–Russia ties by bringing economic cooperation on par with their strong defence and energy linkage.
On the question of ongoing trade negotiations with the US, he expressed confidence: India remains open to a deal — but only on “reasonable terms” that protect the interests of its farmers, workers, and small businesses. He said the stretch of diplomacy today is not about “pleasing someone else” but about safeguarding national interests.
In short: Jaishankar’s message was firm — India will not let any other country act as a gatekeeper for its foreign relations.
