In response to recent remarks made by top US official Donald Lu concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated India’s longstanding relationship with Moscow and emphasized the importance of respecting each country’s freedom of choice in a multipolar world. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during the weekly press briefing on Thursday, “We must understand that India has a longstanding relationship with Russia that is based on mutuality of interests. In a multipolar world, every country has freedom of choice. It is essential for everybody to be mindful of and appreciate such realities.” This statement comes after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu expressed ‘disappointment’ over Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia, mentioning that Washington is holding “tough conversations” with New Delhi regarding these concerns.

During his official visit to Moscow, PM Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders outlined goals to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers and achieve a mutual trade volume of over USD 100 billion by 2030. They also agreed to continue dialogues on the liberalization of bilateral trade, including the possibility of establishing the EAEU-India Free Trade Area. Additionally, they decided to work on developing a bilateral settlement system using national currencies and to consistently introduce digital financial instruments for mutual settlements. Previously, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, commented on India’s strategic autonomy in times of conflict, implying that complete strategic independence may not be feasible during crises. “I know that India…and I respect that India likes its strategic autonomy, but in times of conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy,” Garcetti remarked.

Reacting to Ambassador Garcetti’s comments, the MEA reiterated India’s value of strategic autonomy and the importance of its unique perspective. “India, like many other countries, values its strategic autonomy. The US Ambassador is entitled to his opinion. We also have our own and different views. Our comprehensive global strategic partnership with the US gives us the space to agree to disagree on certain issues, while respecting each other’s viewpoints,” Jaiswal noted. During his visit, PM Modi was honored with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia’s highest civilian honor, awarded by President Putin. This visit marked PM Modi’s first to Russia since the onset of the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022.

India has consistently advocated for “peace and diplomacy” in resolving conflicts and has maintained its stance on continuing oil purchases from Russia, despite objections from Western nations, including the US. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the resolution to conflicts cannot be achieved on the battlefield but through dialogue, expressing the universal pain felt over the loss of innocent lives