India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has categorically ruled out India’s chances of becoming a NATO member. Addressing a briefing, Jaishankar said the ‘NATO template does not apply to India’.
India has no intention of joining NATO, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, citing that the military alliance is not suitable for India.
This comes in response to recent recommendations from a US Congressional Committee. NATO is a military alliance of 30 countries, primarily from Europe and North America. It was founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union and its allies. NATO’s main goal is to deter aggression and protect its members through political and military cooperation. EAM Jaishankar said, ‘NATO template does not apply to India’.
The proposal came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, which is slated to be held end of this month.
Talks of India’s inclusion in the U.S-led military alliance gained prominence after a U.S. House panel recommended including New Delhi to NATO to counter China, Hindustan Times reports. Watch this video for details.