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India did sometimes try to be in a neutral position with respect to both the West and the Soviets, for eg: the Indian Nuclear program had large support from the Canadians. Indian space program had help from the Americans and the French as well as the Soviets.

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Absolutely but during the Cold War you had to be either for the US/NATO or Soviet Union/Warsaw pact. The West was terrified of Russia getting a naval base on the Indian Ocean.

Any country that tried to be neutral was considered suspicious.

There was a third path which India did follow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement

Lenin called this "useful idiots".

The Non-Aligned Movement was part and parcel "Soviet lite".

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