NEW YORK – State Department spokesman Ned Price has admitted that India developed defence ties with Russia because the United States was unprepared for such a relationship when the Soviet Union and India became closer.
Despite India's long history with Russia, he said on Tuesday that the US is a "partner of choice" for New Delhi, and that relationships with Washington, notably in defence and security, are evolving.
Price made the remarks in response to a question from a reporter at his briefing concerning President Joe Biden's assertion on Monday that India was "shaky" in isolating Russia over its invasion of Ukraine among the Quad partners. Price remarked, "You addressed a fascinating topic of history versus where we are now."
The ties began with the Soviet Union and persisted when the communist superpower collapsed with Russia. He was referring to Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's statement in New Delhi on Monday, in which she stated that India and Russia have a "historic defence connection."
"It was a different time, different considerations," Price added, "but those times have changed." "They've evolved in terms of our willingness and ability to be a strong defence and security partner of India," he said, adding that the relationship has expanded with bipartisan backing over the last 25 years or so.
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