India’s approach to sourcing defence hardware is firmly rooted in national interest and is not influenced by ideology, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified on Tuesday, responding to remarks following high-level talks between India and Germany.
Misri’s statement came after the German Chancellor, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, expressed Germany’s desire to deepen cooperation with India on security and defence matters. The German leader indicated that closer collaboration could help diversify India’s defence procurement and reduce its reliance on Russia.
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India and Germany are already engaged in discussions over a potential defence deal involving the construction of six submarines by Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, in partnership with India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. The proposed collaboration reflects growing strategic ties between the two countries in the defence and maritime sectors.
Addressing the German Chancellor’s remarks on defence sourcing, Misri said they reflected a broader shift in Germany’s defence and security policy towards India. “As far as the security policy aspect is concerned, he was pointing to a change in the approach that Germany has taken with regard to defence and security policy insofar as India is concerned,” Misri explained.
However, the Foreign Secretary underlined that India’s procurement decisions are based on multiple considerations aligned with its national priorities. “Our approach on defence sourcing is driven entirely by national interest. There are a lot of factors involved in that, and it is certainly not ideological,” he said.
Misri further emphasized that sourcing defence equipment from one country does not automatically preclude engagement with others. “I would not say that sourcing from one is linked to sourcing from another,” he added, reaffirming India’s independent and pragmatic approach to defence partnerships.
The remarks underscore India’s continued emphasis on strategic autonomy while expanding defence cooperation with multiple global partners to strengthen its security capabilities.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
