"In Our National Interest": Foreign Minister Over Arms Import From Russia

Addressing a press conference with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Mr Jaishankar said India has a tradition of multi-sourcing defence equipment.

Noting that India makes a choice about procuring defence equipment in its national interest, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said where "we get our military equipment is not a new issue or changed due to geo-political changes" and that New Delhi has not faced problems in terms of spare parts supply in the past from Russia.

Addressing a press conference with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Mr Jaishankar said India has a tradition of multi-sourcing defence equipment.

"Don't think we've faced any problems in terms of servicing or spare parts supply we've got in past from Russia. Where we get our military equip is not a new issue or changed due to geopolitical changes. We exercise a choice that is in our national interest," he said.

"We have a tradition of multi-sourcing and for us how to get the optimal deal from a competitive situation is really what this is all about," he said responding to q query on import of defence equipment.