New Delhi: Asked to comment on close Indo-US ties, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said the declaration by the US of India being a “major defence partner” was a “big thing” but referred to PM Narendra Modi’s earlier statements in which he had said that the non-aligned movement (NAM) was a legacy of India which would “not be abandoned”.
The external affairs minister also said India would also continue to have close ties with (its long-term friend) Russia and would also continue to strengthen ties with China.
Ms Swaraj said that despite its close ties with the US, India had not abandoned its self-interest. Ms. Swaraj’s comments come in the wake of developments in the past two years that have seen PM Modi visit the US as many as four times.
Many observers abroad see India as a de-facto US ally now, with the US pushing strongly for India’s NSG membership and enhancing defence ties with New Delhi which are envisaged to be on par with the ties the US has with its closest allies in the world.
