April 24, 2022
1 min read

India wants to be strong friend of West, says Nirmala Sitharaman

Sitharaman made the remarks on Friday in the United States where she attended the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank…reports Asian Lite News

India wants to be strong friends with the “liberal world” but it needs Russia’s assistance to defend its borders, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Bloomberg in an interview in Washington.

India procures most of its military hardware from Russia and in recent weeks has rejected appeals from Western nations to limit bilateral relations with Moscow in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has faced criticism from Western allies with regard to its refusal to outright condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin over the devastating conflict in Ukraine.

Sitharaman said India, which has long-standing border disputes with neighbouring Pakistan and China and in the past has gone to war with both, was focused on protecting its own regional interests.

Alluding to Pakistan and China, Sitharaman told Bloomberg: “You have a neighbour who joins hands with another neighbour, both of whom are against me. In the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, God forbid, if there are alliances created, India has to be strong enough to protect itself.

“India wants to be friends with the European Union and the Western, free, liberal world,” she added, “but not as a weak friend that needs desperate help here and there.”

Sitharaman made the remarks on Friday in the United States where she attended the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

While the United States has traditionally sought to balance relations between arch regional rivals India and Pakistan, in recent years it has also improved strategic ties with New Delhi to counter China.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in India this week to ramp up security and trade relations, said that it was unlikely India would end its long-standing ties with Russia.

ALSO READ-India has its own problems, says Biden

Previous Story

India has its own problems, says Biden

Next Story

UK freezes account of oligarch’s charity that donated $10 m

Latest from -Top News

India, Namibia to Boost Ties During Modi Visit

This will be the first visit of Prime Minister Modi to Namibia, and the third-ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to Namibia….reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to

Quantum Leap Secures India’s Edge

The Minister said India has entered a new quantum era, set to transform future warfare….reports Asian Lite News India has taken a major leap in defence and cyber security by successfully demonstrating

India’s Growth Defies West Asia Tensions

The deepening crisis in West Asia, particularly between Israel and Iran, has had little to no visible impact on India’s economic trajectory or its export performance….reports Asian Lite News The limited trade

FM Sitharaman Embarks on Three-Nation Tour

She is leading the Indian delegation from the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance….reports Asian Lite News Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman commenced her official visit to Spain, Portugal,
Go toTop