Date:04/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/04/stories/2008050459320900.htm

National

‘Cooperation with all’ is our policy: Antony

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: Responding to the Left’s criticism of the UPA’s foreign and defence policies, Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony said here on Saturday that India would not be part of any military alliance with any country though it would continue the policy of cooperation, including on defence affairs, with different nations.

Inaugurating the Alappuzha district conference of the Indian National Congress here, Mr. Antony said India would continue to tread the path shown by Jawaharlal Nehru in the matter of an independent foreign policy and enter into friendly ties with as many countries as possible, including Russia and the U.S. This would not mean that the country was surrendering its time-tested foreign policies, he said.