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Jaishankar on Russia ties: Firmly wedded to strategic autonomy

February 15, 2026 3 min read International Relations GS2 (International Relations India's Foreign Policy)
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What Happened

  • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (February 14, 2026), stated that India is "very much wedded to strategic autonomy" in response to questions about India's energy purchases from Russia.
  • The United States had indicated that India committed to stop buying additional Russian oil as part of recent trade discussions between the two countries.
  • Jaishankar clarified that decisions on energy procurement, including from Russia, are guided by commercial considerations -- cost, availability, and risk -- not by external political pressure.
  • He described the global energy market as "complex" and said Indian oil companies make decisions they feel are in their best interest.
  • Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with G7 Foreign Ministers at the conference and reinforced India's push for UN Security Council reforms.

Static Topic Bridges

Strategic Autonomy -- Evolution from Non-Alignment

Strategic autonomy refers to a state's ability to make sovereign decisions insulated from external pressure, pursuing policies driven purely by national interest. It represents the post-Cold War evolution of India's original Non-Alignment position (articulated by Nehru), adapted for a multipolar world. While Non-Alignment meant abstaining from formal alliances with either superpower bloc, strategic autonomy involves actively engaging multiple major powers while retaining independent decision-making capacity.

  • Non-Alignment Movement (NAM): Founded 1961 (Belgrade), India a founding member; rejected Cold War bipolarity
  • Post-Cold War shift: From non-alignment to strategic autonomy in the 1990s, recognizing the end of bipolarity
  • Contemporary framework: Multi-alignment -- India simultaneously deepens ties with the US (Quad, iCET), Russia (defense, energy), and others while avoiding treaty alliances
  • Key articulations: PM Modi's "India is not part of any alliance" (2019); Jaishankar's "India will make choices that serve its interests" (various forums)

Connection to this news: Jaishankar's Munich remarks explicitly invoke strategic autonomy as the guiding principle for India's energy choices, positioning Russian oil purchases as commercial decisions rather than geopolitical alignment -- a textbook application of the doctrine.

India-Russia Energy Trade

India's oil imports from Russia surged dramatically after the 2022 Ukraine conflict, as Russia offered steep discounts on crude oil following Western sanctions. Russia became India's single largest crude oil supplier, displacing traditional sources like Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

  • Pre-2022: Russia supplied less than 2% of India's crude imports
  • Peak: India imported approximately 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from Russia in October 2025, accounting for roughly 35-40% of total crude imports
  • Projected reduction: Imports expected to fall to under 1 million bpd by March 2026 amid US pressure
  • India's total crude import dependence: ~87% of domestic consumption
  • Key refiners involved: Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, Reliance Industries

Connection to this news: The US claim that India agreed to curtail Russian oil purchases, and Jaishankar's pushback, highlights the tension between India's energy security imperatives and its deepening strategic partnership with Washington.

Munich Security Conference (MSC)

The Munich Security Conference is the world's premier annual forum for international security policy debate, held every February at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany. It brings together heads of state, defense and foreign ministers, military leaders, and security experts.

  • Founded: 1963, by Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin (originally called Internationale Wehrkundebegegnung)
  • Current edition: 62nd MSC (February 2026)
  • Expanded scope: Initially focused on transatlantic relations; since 1999, includes leaders from Russia, China, India, Japan, and other rising powers
  • Significance: A key venue where major policy positions are articulated and diplomatic side-meetings occur
  • India's engagement: Regular high-level participation; Jaishankar used the 2026 edition to advocate for UNSC reform and discuss India's Indo-Pacific vision

Connection to this news: Jaishankar chose the MSC -- a forum with global media attention -- to publicly assert India's strategic autonomy, ensuring the message reached both Western and Russian audiences simultaneously.

Key Facts & Data

  • Munich Security Conference: 62nd edition, February 2026, Munich, Germany
  • India's Russian crude imports: Peaked at ~1.8 million bpd (October 2025); projected to decline to under 1 million bpd by March 2026
  • India's crude oil import dependence: ~87% of domestic consumption
  • Russia's share of India's crude imports: Rose from ~2% (pre-2022) to ~35-40% (2025)
  • Non-Alignment Movement: Founded 1961, Belgrade; India a founding member alongside Yugoslavia, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia
  • Jaishankar's bilateral meetings at MSC 2026: Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Canada, Japan, Czech Republic, and the US