America understands that India has a special relationship with Russia including in the defence and security sector and “that is okay,” US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday.
"We share important interests with India. We share important values with India. And we know India has a relationship with Russia that is distinct from the relationship that we have with Russia. Of course, that is okay," Price told journalists at a press conference, according to a PTI report from Washington.
"India has a relationship with Russia that we certainly don't have. India and Russia have a relationship, including in the defence and security sector, that we don't have. … we have asked every country that has a relationship and certainly those countries that have leverage to use that leverage in a constructive way," he said in response to a question.
Price said the US has a broad strategic partnership with India. Earlier, too, Price had said America’s relationship with India stands on its own merit and has not been impacted by the ongoing tension with Russia.
He was responding to a question on whether U.S. relations with India have been impacted due to the stand New Delhi has taken in the UN Security Council on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
India abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that said it "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. New Delhi said dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes and voiced "regret" that the path of diplomacy was given up.
The resolution did go through as permanent member Russia used its veto.
As India tries to maintain a tough diplomatic balance on the Russia-Ukraine war, it used strong words on Russian actions but stopped short of voting against them.
Before the UN Security Council vote, the US had built up pressure on India to commit to a stronger response to Russia's military operation in Ukraine..
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, speaking to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had emphasised the importance of a "strong collective response" to condemn Russia’s move.
However, India stayed firm on its stand at the UNSC and in its “explanation of vote” called for a return to the path of diplomacy.
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