Foreign policy responded to multipolar world: Govt

India’s foreign policy is guided by its “overarching national interest,” and engagements with different partners are guided by considerations of mutual benefit, the Government informed Parliament on Thursday.

In a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also said “strategic autonomy” is an important strand of the country’s foreign policy.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut asked the Ministry of External Affairs whether the Government has reviewed “concerns” that India’s foreign policy is projecting “conflicting signals” under the rubric of strategic autonomy.

“India’s foreign policy is guided by its overarching national interest. Strategic autonomy is an important strand of our foreign policy. Engagements with different partners are guided by considerations of mutual benefit,” Singh said.

Decisions relating to energy and defence are based on “considerations of security and availability, as well as the need to diversify sourcing,” he said. The MEA was also asked how continued energy trade and military engagements with Russia are being reconciled with India’s commitment to a rules-based international order and partnerships with Western nations. Singh said, “India’s foreign policy has responded fully to the requirements of a multipolar world”.

“We are regarded as a credible partner by a wide variety of groupings, and this is reflected in expanded diplomatic engagements. This is also the case in the neighbourhood, where India continues to maintain strong relations,” he added.

Sustained political and developmental engagement in its immediate neighbourhood covers India’s initiatives in being a primary provider of development finance, acting as a first responder in crises, building strong people-to-people linkages and bolstering capacity development, the MoS said.

In a separate query, the Government was asked whether it has assessed the impact of the recent H-1B visa policy and processing issues on Indian professionals working in the US.