New Delhi, July 19 :
India values its strategic autonomy and has its own and different views, while the US Ambassador is entitled to his opinion, the Ministry of External Affairs said while reacting to the recent remarks by envoy Eric Garcetti.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal further said that the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two nations gives them the space “to agree to disagree” on certain issues, while respecting each other’s viewpoints. “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 said in the weekly press briefing on Friday.
This comes after envoy Garcetti, in veiled remarks, said that there is no such thing as “strategic autonomy” in times of conflict. His remarks came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Russia.
“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. We will in crisis moments, need to know each other. I don’t care what title we put to it, but we will need to know that we are trusted friends, brothers and sisters, and colleagues in times of need,” Garcetti said at an event last week. Further, speaking of India-US relations, the MEA said it is a “comprehensive, strategic, global partnership,” and the two countries engage with each other on several aspects of the relationship.
“It’s a comprehensive, strategic, global partnership. We have a lot of issues to discuss and both sides engage with each other on several aspects of the relationship, and we discuss all issues that are of interest to both parties…It is not our practice to share details of diplomatic conversations,” Jaiswal added.
PM Modi, who was on an official visit to Moscow recently, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin there and outlined their goals to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers and achieve a mutual trade volume of over USD 100 billion by 2030.
The two leaders also decided to continue dialogue on the liberalization of bilateral trade, including the possibility of establishing the EAEU-India Free Trade Area, according to the Leaders’ Joint Statement released following the meeting.
They also decided to work on developing a bilateral settlement system using national currencies and the consistent introduction of digital financial instruments for mutual settlements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need for peaceful solutions to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the devastating effects of violence on civilians and children during his official visit to Moscow, the Ministry of External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday.
Addressing a weekly press briefing, Jaiswal highlighted that the Prime Minister’s comments were intended to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict and avoid further bloodshed. “Prime Minister had gone to Russia to attend the 22nd annual summit between India and Russia. During the occasion, he made it very clear that the solution to any war does not lie on the battlefield,” Jaiswal said.
“He also made it clear what he thinks about violence and children, innocent people being impacted by violence, and people in general being impacted by violence. So all these issues were made very clear in his press statements when he spoke to the media and to the public at large,” the MEA spokesperson said.
Further, he also stated that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba today and discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest.
“This afternoon, EAM spoke with Foreign Minister of Ukraine to discuss bilateral issues of mutual interest.”
Earlier, Jaishankar took to social media platform X to post about the telephone call. Jaishankar said the focus of the conversation was to further develop the bilateral relationship. “A good conversation with FM @DmytroKuleba of Ukraine this afternoon. Spoke about further developing our bilateral relationship,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia on June 8 describing it as a “devastating blow to peace efforts.”
During his two-day visit to Russia, Prime Minister Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter’s house in suburban Moscow.
Zelenskyy took to social media platform X to post that on the same day that 37 people, including three children, were killed and 170 others were injured due to Russia’s missile strike at the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv.
“In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russia’s brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” the Ukrainian leader said.
The Moscow visit of PM Modi marks his first visit to Russia since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started in 2022.
India has always advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and restore peace.
