The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: India on Friday, July 19, hit back at the United States over its ambassador Eric Garcetti’s remark that “there is no such thing as strategic autonomy in times of conflict”, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Russia.
Taking exception to Garcetti’s remarks, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India, like many other countries, values its ‘strategic autonomy’. The US Ambassador is entitled to his opinion. Obviously, we have different views. Our comprehensive global strategic partnership with the US gives us the space to agree to disagree on certain issues, while respecting each other’s viewpoints.”
The MEA’s response was in relation to remarks made by Garcetti at Defence News Conclave organised by CUTS International on July 12. The remarks were made days after images of Modi hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin had caused consternation in the Western capitals.
Garcetti had said, “…I respect that India, likes its strategic autonomy. But in times of conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy. We will, in crisis moments, need to know each other. I don’t care what title we put to it, but we will need to know that we are trusted friends, brothers and sisters, colleagues in times of need, and the next day be acting together.”
The US ambassador had also said, “No war is distant anymore, and we must not just stand for peace. We must take concrete actions to make sure those who don’t play by peaceful rules that their war machines cannot continue unabated. That’s something the US needs to know and that India needs to know together.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday held a phone conversation with his Indian counterpart regarding Ukraine-India bilateral relations. The dialogue comes two weeks after Prime Minister Modi visited Russia, inviting harshest criticism from Ukraine.
Kuleba wrote on X, “Building on my visit to New Delhi earlier this year and the meeting between President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Modi in Italy, I spoke with my Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar about the further development of Ukrainian-Indian bilateral relations.”
Similarly, Jaishankar wrote, “A good conversation with FM @DmytroKuleba of Ukraine this afternoon. Spoke about further developing our bilateral relationship.”
Meanwhile, the MEA spokesperson in his Friday briefing also weighed in on the violent attack on former US president Donald Trump.
“We have seen reports of the attack on former US President Donald Trump. Within hours of the news, our PM expressed deep concerns on the attack and strongly condemned the incident. He had also pointed out that violence has no place in politics and democracies. He wished former President a speedy recovery and expressed solidarity with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people. The US is a fellow democracy and we wish them well,” said Randhir Jaiswal.
In other news, Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the US. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, an MEA release said.
Kwatra’s appointment is political in nature, as he retired as foreign secretary before being made India’s envoy to the US. The post has been lying vacant since Taranjit Singh Sandhu left it in January.