Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru told Queen Elizabeth II during a 1956 meeting that "India will always be on the side of Russia." The remark, reportedly made during a private conversation, was revealed in Johnson's memoir, according to multiple news reports.
Johnson's account has drawn skepticism from historians and diplomats. Experts note that Nehru was a founding leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, which sought to avoid alignment with either the US or the Soviet Union during the Cold War. While India had close ties with the Soviet Union, including a 1971 friendship treaty, characterizing Nehru's stance as pro-Russia oversimplifies his foreign policy.
The 1956 meeting took place during a state visit by Nehru to London, but no official record of such a statement exists. Historians point out that Nehru's public statements and policies emphasized non-alignment and independence in foreign affairs. The claim has been widely discussed in Indian and British media, with many questioning its accuracy.
As of August 2026, no archival evidence has been produced to support Johnson's assertion. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over historical narratives and the reliability of political memoirs.
