India's Multi-Alignment Foreign Policy Doctrine
India's approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict exemplifies its broader foreign policy doctrine of multi-alignment (also termed strategic autonomy). India has maintained diplomatic engagement with both Russia and the West, avoiding formal alignment with either bloc while prioritising its own national interests.
- India abstained on all key UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine (2022-2024)
- PM Modi's statement at the 2022 SCO Summit — "Today's era is not an era of war" — was directed at Russia and became a defining articulation of India's position
- India continued purchasing Russian crude, military hardware (S-400 system, spare parts), and fertilisers despite Western pressure
- The US invoked but did not apply CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, 2017) sanctions on India for the S-400 purchase, granting a de facto waiver
- India's multi-alignment approach draws from the Non-Aligned Movement legacy but is distinct: it involves active engagement with all major powers rather than non-engagement
● Tracked since February 19, 2026 · last seen March 15, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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