New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday strongly defended India’s decision to purchase Russian oil and pushed back against criticism from some European countries regarding New Delhi’s ties with Moscow. Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland, Jaishankar asserted that India’s foreign policy decisions are guided by national interests and highlighted what he described as a double standard in European criticism of India’s Russia policy.
Participating in a panel discussion titled “Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition” alongside Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Jaishankar was asked about India’s continued engagement with Russia and its growing dependence on Russian crude oil following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict.
Responding to suggestions that India had been overly sympathetic towards Russia, Jaishankar pointed to Europe’s own record of arms exports, stating that weapons supplied by European countries had been used against India for many years.
“No European country has been attacked with Indian weapons. I wish I could say that for Europe weapons vis-a-vis India,” Jaishankar remarked during the discussion. He further elaborated that India had never taken actions that endangered European security interests, while European-origin weapons had, in some instances, been used against India.
“Europe sells weapons, which are used to attack India. Not just now but for many years. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe. I think that’s a reasonable point,” he said.
The External Affairs Minister also defended India’s purchases of Russian oil, arguing that the decision was based primarily on economic considerations and the realities of the global energy market rather than geopolitical alignment.
According to Jaishankar, the disruption caused by sanctions imposed on Russia following the Ukraine conflict significantly altered global oil supply patterns. He explained that many European nations shifted their focus towards traditional Middle Eastern suppliers, creating circumstances that made Russian crude more accessible and commercially viable for India.
“I buy oil based on cost and availability,” Jaishankar said, emphasizing that India’s energy security requirements necessitate practical decisions. He noted that a substantial portion of the oil available in international markets during that period came from Russia.
In a notable revelation, Jaishankar stated that the United States had directly encouraged India to continue purchasing Russian oil in 2022 to help stabilize global energy markets and prevent supply disruptions following the sanctions imposed on Moscow.
“At that time, the US directly asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilise the oil market,” he said.
The minister also questioned what he described as inconsistencies in Western approaches towards sanctions, trade, and energy security. He argued against applying selective standards to countries navigating complex geopolitical and economic challenges.
Jaishankar’s remarks come amid continued scrutiny from certain Western governments over India’s relationship with Russia. New Delhi has consistently maintained that its foreign policy decisions are based on strategic autonomy, national interests, and the need to ensure energy security for its population.
