Strategic Autonomy in India's Foreign Policy
India's foreign policy is guided by the principle of strategic autonomy — the pursuit of national interest without subordinating decision-making to any external power. Rooted in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that India co-founded in 1961 (Bandung Conference, 1955 was the precursor), strategic autonomy has evolved from Cold War non-alignment to contemporary "multi-alignment" under which India simultaneously engages the US (through Quad, defence ties), Russia (through energy and defence procurement), and China (through trade and diplomatic engagement).
- India is the largest buyer of Russian defence equipment globally, with over 60% of its military platforms of Russian/Soviet origin.
- India abstained from UN resolutions condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and 2023, consistent with its strategic autonomy doctrine.
- The External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar famously articulated India's position: "Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems."
- Under the February 2026 trade deal, India committed to reducing Russian oil purchases as a long-term goal in exchange for removal of the US's punitive 25% tariff.
● Tracked since March 11, 2026 · last seen May 15, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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