India clarifies no talks held on F-35 jets, stresses autonomy in balancing ties with US, Russia
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that India's ties with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. 'India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership,' he said.
Jaiswal pointed out that the India-US relationship is a 'comprehensive global strategic partnership' anchored in 'shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties,' noting that the partnership has endured 'several transitions and challenges.'
He added, 'We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and are confident that the relationship will continue to move forward.'
Addressing a question on defence cooperation, Jaiswal said: 'We have a strong defence partnership with the U.S., which has been strengthening over the last several years. There is potential for this partnership to grow further under the India-U.S. COMPACT for the 21st century.'
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Equally, with a mercurial US president, things could swing right back to a more predictable and respectful relationship. But even amid the current uncertainty, Indian diplomats can draw satisfaction from the fact that an increasingly multipolar world sees India as a shining example of economic progress. And that's something even Trump cannot ignore.
