External Affairs Minister S.K. Jaishankar has made it clear that India’s policies will always be in the national interest.
Speaking at the Economic Times World Leadership Forum, Jaishankar gave a clear message that India is buying oil from Russia, it is not only in its national interest but also in global interest.
He acknowledged the problems faced by the Donald Trump administration in the conversation of the trade agreement and said that India has its own “red lines”. US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% duty on goods exported from India since August 7. At the same time, India’s crude oil trade from Russia is also expected to implement an additional 25% fee from August 27.
Jaishankar strongly defended India-Russia energy relations, saying that oil purchases are in interest both national and international levels. He said, “It is described as an oil issue but this biggest importer does not apply to China. The arguments given about India do not apply to China.”
He clearly stated that India is capable of taking independent decisions and finally the decisions will be keeping in mind the national interest. Speaking on energy security, he said, “If you don’t like, don’t buy. But Europe buys, America buys. If you don’t like it, don’t buy from us.”
He reminded that in 2022, when there was concern about the huge jump in oil prices globally, it was said that if India wants to buy Russian oil, it was bought, as it would stabilize the prices.
Jaishankar clarified that India’s oil procurement helps to stabilize both domestic and global markets. “We are buying oil so that oil prices remain stable. It is in our national interest, but it is also in the global interest,” he said.
On the recent visit to Russia, he said that it was part of the annual bilateral discussions. “We want to grow business with Russia,” he said and also repeated India’s clear position on the Ukraine issue and said that India wants this struggle to end soon.
