Goa, Jan. 13 -- India's approach to sourcing defence hardware is firmly rooted in national interest and is not influenced by ideology, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified on Tuesday, responding to remarks following high-level talks between India and Germany.

Misri's statement came after the German Chancellor, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, expressed Germany's desire to deepen cooperation with India on security and defence matters. The German leader indicated that closer collaboration could help diversify India's defence procurement and reduce its reliance on Russia.

India and Germany are already engaged in discussions over a potential defence deal involving the construction of six submarines by Germany's T...